226. Thirdly: I answer, that this power in the people of providing
for their safety anew by a new legislative when their legislators have
acted contrary to their trust by invading their property, is the
best fence against rebellion, and the probable means to hinder it. For
rebellion being an opposition, not to persons, but authority, which is
founded only in the constitutions and laws of the government: those,
whoever they be, who, by force, break through, and, by force,
justify their violation of them, are truly and properly rebels. For
when men, by entering into society and civil government, have excluded
force, and introduced laws for the preservation of property, peace,
and unity amongst themselves, those who set up force again in
opposition to the laws, do rebellare- that is, bring back again the
state of war, and are properly rebels, which they who are in power, by
the pretence they have to authority, the temptation of force they have
in their hands, and the flattery of those about them being likeliest
to do, the proper way to prevent the evil is to show them the danger
and injustice of it who are under the greatest temptation to run
into it.
Pages:
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213