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Locke, John

"Concerning Civil Government, Second Essay"

For it being impossible to foresee which should
always be the fittest place for them to assemble in, and what the best
season, the choice of these was left with the executive power, as
might be best subservient to the public good and best suit the ends of
parliament.
168. The old question will be asked in this matter of prerogative,
"But who shall be judge when this power is made a right use of?" I
answer: Between an executive power in being, with such a
prerogative, and a legislative that depends upon his will for their
convening, there can be no judge on earth. As there can be none
between the legislative and the people, should either the executive or
the legislative, when they have got the power in their hands,
design, or go about to enslave or destroy them, the people have no
other remedy in this, as in all other cases where they have no judge
on earth, but to appeal to Heaven; for the rulers in such attempts,
exercising a power the people never put into their hands, who can
never be supposed to consent that anybody should rule over them for
their harm, do that which they have not a right to do. And where the
body of the people, or any single man, are deprived of their right, or
are under the exercise of a power without right, having no appeal on
earth they have a liberty to appeal to Heaven whenever they judge
the cause of sufficient moment.


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