第4章

Myotherwisepersonalrightisthustransmutedintoarealright,accordingtowhichImaytakeandvindicatetheobjectasminewhereverImayfindit,withoutbeingresponsibleforthewayinwhichtheSellerhadcomeintopossessionofit。

Itisthereforeonlyinbehoofoftherequirementsofjuridicaldecisioninacourt(infavoremjustitaedistributivae)thattherightinrespectofathingisregarded,notaspersonal,whichitisinitself,butasreal,becauseitcanthusbemosteasilyandcertainlyadjudged;anditisthusacceptedanddealtwithaccordingtoapureprincipleapriori。Uponthisprinciple,variousstatutorylawscometobefoundedwhichspeciallyaimatlayingdowntheconditionsunderwhichaloneamodeofacquisitionshallbelegitimate,sothatthejudgemaybeabletoassigneveryonehisownaseasilyandcertainlyaspossible。Thus,inthebrocard,\"Purchasebreakshire,\"whatbythenatureofthesubjectisarealright—namelythehire—istakentoholdasamerelypersonalright;

and,conversely,asinthecasereferredtoabove,whatisinitselfmerelyapersonalrightisheldtobevalidasarealright。Andthisisdoneonlywhenthequestionarisesastotheprinciplesbywhichacourtofjusticeinthecivilstateistobeguided,inordertoproceedwithallpossiblesafetyindeliveringjudgementontherightsofindividuals。

40。IV。AcquisitionofSecuritybytheTakingofanOath。

(CautioJuratoria)。

Onlyonegroundcanbeassignedonwhichitcouldbeheldthatmenareboundinthejuridicalrelationtobelieveandtoconfessthattherearegods,orthatthereisaGod。Itisthattheymaybeabletoswearanoath;andthatthusbythefearofanall—seeingSupremePower,whoserevengetheymustsolemnlyinvokeuponthemselvesincasetheirutteranceshouldbefalse,theymaybeconstrainedtobetruthfulinstatementandfaithfulinpromising。Itisnotmoralitybutmerelyblindsuperstitionthatisreckoneduponinthisprocess;

foritisevidentitimpliesthatnocertaintyistobeexpectedfromameresolemndeclarationinmattersofrightbeforeacourt,althoughthedutyoftruthfulnessmusthavealwaysappearedself—evidenttoall,inamatterwhichconcernstheholiestthatcanbeamongmen—namely,therightofman。Hencerecoursehasbeenhadtoamotivefoundedonmeremythsandfablesasimaginaryguarantees。

ThusamongtheRejangs,aheathenpeopleinSumatra,itisthecustom—

accordingtothetestimonyofMarsden—toswearbythebonesoftheirdeadrelatives,althoughtheyhavenobeliefinalifeafterdeath。InlikemannerthenegroesofGuineaswearbytheirfetish,abird’sfeather,whichtheyimprecateunderthebeliefthatitwillbreaktheirneck。Andsoinothercases。Thebeliefunderlyingtheseoathsisthataninvisiblepower—whetherithasunderstandingornot—

byitsverynaturepossessesmagicalpowerthatcanbeputintoactionbysuchinvocations。Suchabelief—whichiscommonlycalledreligion,butwhichoughttobecalledsuperstition—is,however,indispensablefortheadministrationofjustice;because,withoutreferringtoit,acourtofjusticewouldnothaveadequatemeanstoascertainfactsotherwisekeptsecret,andtodeterminerights。A

lawmakinganoathobligatoryisthereforeonlygiveninbehoofofthejudicialauthority。

Butthenthequestionarisesastowhattheobligationcouldbefoundeduponthatwouldbindanyoneinacourtofjusticetoaccepttheoathofanotherpersonasarightandvalidproofofthetruthofhisstatementswhicharetoputanendtoalldispute。Inotherwords,whatobligesmejuridicallytobelievethatanotherpersonwhentakinganoathhasanyreligionatall,sothatIshouldsubordinateorentrustmyrighttohisoath?And,onlikegrounds,conversely,canIbeboundatalltotakeanoath?Itisevidentthatboththesequestionspointtowhatisinitselfmorallywrong。

Butinrelationtoacourtofjustice—andgenerallyinthecivilstate—ifitbeassumedtherearenoothermeansofgettingtothetruthincertaincasesthanbyanoath,itmustbeadopted。Inregardtoreligion,underthesuppositionthateveryonehasit,itmaybeutilizedasanecessarymeans(incausunecessitatis),inbehoofofthelegitimateprocedureofacourtofjustice。Thecourtusesthisformofspiritualcompulsion(torturaspiritualis)asanavailablemeans,inconformitywiththesuperstitiouspropensityofmankind,fortheascertainmentofwhatisconcealed;andthereforeholdsitselfjustifiedinsodoing。Thelegislativepower,however,isfundamentallywronginassigningthisauthoritytothejudicialpower,becauseeveninthecivilstateanycompulsionwithregardtothetakingofoathsiscontrarytotheinalienablefreedomofman。

Officialoaths,whichareusuallypromissory,beingtakenonenteringuponanoffice,totheeffectthattheindividualhassincereintentiontoadministerhisfunctionsdutifully,mightwellbechangedintoassertoryoaths,tobetakenattheendofayearormoreofactualadministration,theofficialswearingtothefaithfulnessofhisdischargeofdutyduringthattime。Thiswouldbringtheconsciencemoreintoactionthanthepromissoryoath,whichalwaysgivesroomfortheinternalpretextthat,withthebestintention,thedifficultiesthataroseduringtheadministrationoftheofficialfunctionwerenotforeseen。And,further,violationsofduty,undertheprospectoftheirbeingsummedupbyfuturecensors,wouldgiverisetomoreanxietyastocensurethanwhentheyaremerelyrepresented,oneaftertheother,andforgotten。

Asregardsanoathtakenconcerningamatterofbelief(decredulitate),itisevidentthatnosuchoathcanbedemandedbyacourt。1。For,first,itcontainsinitselfacontradiction。Suchbelief,asintermediatebetweenopinionandknowledge,isathingonwhichonemightventuretolayawagerbutnottoswearanoath。2。

And,second,thejudgewhoimposesanoathofbelief,inordertoascertainanythingpertinenttohisownpurposeoreventothecommongood,commitsagreatoffenceagainsttheconscientiousnessofthepartytakingsuchanoath。Thishedoesinregardbothtothelevityofmind,whichhetherebyhelpstoengender,andtothestingsofconsciencewhichamanmustfeelwhoto—dayregardsasubjectfromacertainpointofview,butwhowillveryprobablyto—morrowfinditquiteimprobablefromanotherpointofview。Anyone,therefore,whoiscompelledtotakesuchanoath,issubjectedtoaninjury。

TransitionfromtheMineandThineintheStateofNaturetotheMineandThineintheJuridicalStateGenerally。

41。PublicJusticeasRelatedtotheNaturalandtheCivilState。

Thejuridicalstateisthatrelationofmentooneanotherwhichcontainstheconditionsunderwhichitisalonepossibleforeveryonetoobtaintherightthatishisdue。Theformalprincipleofthepossibilityofactuallyparticipatinginsuchright,viewedinaccordancewiththeideaofauniversallylegislativewill,ispublicjustice。Publicjusticemaybeconsideredinrelationeithertothepossibility,oractuality,ornecessityofthepossessionofobjects—regardedasthematteroftheactivityofthewill—accordingtolaws。Itmaythusbedividedintoprotectivejustice(justitiatestatrix),commutativejustice(justitiacommutativa),anddistributivejustice(justitiadistributiva),inthefirstmodeofjustice,thelawdeclaresmerelywhatrelationisinternallyrightinrespectofform(lexjusti);inthesecond,itdeclareswhatislikewiseexternallyinaccordwithalawinrespectoftheobject,andwhatpossessionisrightful(lexjuridica);andinthethird,itdeclareswhatisright,andwhatisjust,andtowhatextent,bythejudgementofacourtinanyparticularcasecomingunderthegivenlaw。Inthislatterrelation,thepubliccourtiscalledthejusticeofthecountry;andthequestionwhetherthereactuallyisorisnotsuchanadministrationofpublicjusticemayberegardedasthemostimportantofalljuridicalinterests。

Thenon—juridicalstateisthatconditionofsocietyinwhichthereisnodistributivejustice。Itiscommonlycalledthenaturalstate(statusnaturalis),orthestateofnature。Itisnotthesocialstate,asAchenwallputsit,forthismaybeinitselfanartificialstate(statusartificialis),thatistobecontradistinguishedfromthe\"natural\"state。Theoppositeofthestateofnatureisthecivilstate(statuscivilis)astheconditionofasocietystandingunderadistributivejustice。Inthestateofnature,theremayevenbejuridicalformsofsocietysuchasmarriage,parentalauthority,thehousehold,andsuchlike。Fornoneofthese,however,doesanylawapriorilayitdownasanincumbentobligation:\"Thoushaltenterintothisstate。\"Butitmaybesaidofthejuridicalstatethat:\"Allmenwhomayeveninvoluntarilycomeintorelationsofrightwithoneanotheroughttoenterintothisstate。\"

Thenaturalornon—juridicalsocialstatemaybeviewedasthesphereofprivateright,andthecivilstatemaybespeciallyregardedasthesphereofpublicright。Thelatterstatecontainsnomoreandnootherdutiesofmentowardseachotherthanwhatmaybeconceivedinconnectionwiththeformerstate;thematterofprivaterightis,inshort,theverysameinboth。Thelawsofthecivilstate,therefore,onlyturnuponthejuridicalformofthecoexistenceofmenunderacommonconstitution;and,inthisrespect,theselawsmustnecessarilyberegardedandconceivedaspubliclaws。

Thecivilunion(uniocivilis)cannot,inthestrictsense,beproperlycalledasociety;forthereisnosocialityincommonbetweentheruler(imperans)andthesubject(subditus)underacivilconstitution。Theyarenotco—ordinatedasassociatesinasocietywitheachother,buttheoneissubordinatedtotheother。Thosewhomaybeco—ordinatedwithoneanothermustconsiderthemselvesasmutuallyequal,insofarastheystandundercommonlaws。Thecivilunionmaythereforeberegardednotsomuchasbeing,butratherasmakingasociety。

42。ThePostulateofPublicRight。

Fromtheconditionsofprivaterightinthenaturalstate,therearisesthepostulateofpublicright。Itmaybethusexpressed:\"Intherelationofunavoidablecoexistencewithothers,thoushaltpassfromthestateofnatureintoajuridicalunionconstitutedundertheconditionofadistributivejustice。\"Theprincipleofthispostulatemaybeunfoldedanalyticallyfromtheconceptionofrightintheexternalrelation,contradistinguishedfrommeremightasviolence。

Nooneisunderobligationtoabstainfrominterferingwiththepossessionofothers,unlesstheygivehimareciprocalguaranteefortheobservanceofasimilarabstentionfrominterferencewithhispossession。Nordoesherequiretowaitforproofbyexperienceoftheneedofthisguarantee,inviewoftheantagonisticdispositionofothers。Heisthereforeundernoobligationtowaittillheacquirespracticalprudenceathisowncost;forhecanperceiveinhimselfevidenceofthenaturalinclinationofmentoplaythemasteroverothers,andtodisregardtheclaimsoftherightofothers,whentheyfeelthemselvestheirsuperiorsbymightorfraud。Andthusitisnotnecessarytowaitforthemelancholyexperienceofactualhostility;theindividualisfromthefirstentitledtoexercisearightfulcompulsiontowardsthosewhoalreadythreatenhimbytheirverynature。Quilibetpraesumiturmalus,donecsecuritatemdederitoppositi。

Solongastheintentiontoliveandcontinueinthisstateofexternallylawlessfreedomprevails,menmaybesaidtodonowrongorinjusticeatalltooneanother,evenwhentheywagewaragainsteachother。Forwhatseemscompetentasgoodfortheoneisequallyvalidfortheother,asifitweresobymutualagreement。Utipartesdejuresuodisponunt,itajusest。Butgenerallytheymustbeconsideredasbeinginthehigheststateofwrong,asbeingandwillingtobeinaconditionwhichisnotjuridical,andinwhich,therefore,noonecanbesecuredagainstviolence,inthepossessionofhisown。

Thedistinctionbetweenwhatisonlyformallyandwhatisalsomateriallywrong,andunjust,findsfrequentapplicationinthescienceofright。Anenemywho,onoccupyingabesiegedfortress,insteadofhonourablyfulfillingtheconditionsofacapitulation,maltreatsthegarrisononmarchingout,orotherwiseviolatestheagreement,cannotcomplainofinjuryorwrongifonanotheroccasionthesametreatmentisinflicteduponthemselves。But,infact,allsuchactionsfundamentallyinvolvethecommissionofwrongandinjustice,inthehighestdegree;becausetheytakeallvalidityawayfromtheconceptionofright,andgiveupeverything,asitwerebylawitself,tosavageviolence,andthusoverthrowtherightsofmengenerally。

SECONDPART。PUBLICRIGHT。

THESYSTEMOFTHOSELAWSWHICHREQUIREPUBLICPROMULGATION。

THEPRINCIPLESOFRIGHTINCIVILSOCIETY。

43。DefinitionandDivisionofPublicRight。

Publicrightembracesthewholeofthelawsthatrequiretobeuniversallypromulgatedinordertoproducejuridicalstateofsociety。Itisthereforeasystemofthoselawsthatarerequisiteforapeopleasamultitudeofmenforminganation,orforanumberofnations,intheirrelationstoeachother。Menandnations,onaccountoftheirmutualinfluenceononeanother,requireajuridicalconstitutionunitingthemunderonewill,inorderthattheymayparticipateinwhatisright。Thisrelationoftheindividualsofanationtoeachotherconstitutesthecivilunioninthesocialstate;and,viewedasawholeinrelationtoitsconstituentmembers,itformsthepoliticalstate(civitas)。

1。Thestate,asconstitutedbythecommoninterestofalltoliveinajuridicalunion,iscalled,inviewofitsform,thecommonwealthortherepublicinthewidersenseoftheterm(respublicalatiussicdicta)。Theprinciplesofrightinthisspherethusconstitutethefirstdepartmentofpublicrightastherightofthestate(juscivitatis)ornationalright。2。Thestate,again,viewedinrelationtootherpeoples,iscalledapower(potentia),whencearisestheideaofpotentates。Viewedinrelationtothesupposedhereditaryunityofthepeoplecomposingit,thestateconstitutesanation(gens)。Underthegeneralconceptionofpublicright,inadditiontotherightoftheindividualstate,therethusarisesanotherdepartmentofright,constitutingtherightofnations(jusgentium)orinternationalright。3。Further,asthesurfaceoftheearthisnotunlimitedinextent,butiscircumscribedintoaunity,nationalrightandinternationalrightnecessarilyculminateintheideaofauniversalrightofmankind,whichmaybecalledCosmopoliticalRight(juscosmopoliticum)。Andnational,international,andcosmopoliticalrightaresointerconnected,that,ifanyoneofthesethreepossibleformsofthejuridicalrelationfailstoembodytheessentialprinciplesthatoughttoregulateexternalfreedombylaw,thestructureoflegislationrearedbytheotherswillalsobeundermined,andthewholesystemwouldatlastfalltopieces。

I。RightoftheStateandConstitutionalLaw。

(JusCivitatis)。

44。OriginOftheCivilUnionandPublicRight。

Itisnotfromanyexperiencepriortotheappearanceofanexternalauthoritativelegislationthatwelearnofthemaximofnaturalviolenceamongmenandtheireviltendencytoengageinwarwitheachother。Norisitassumedherethatitismerelysomeparticularhistoricalconditionorfact,thatmakespubliclegislativeconstraintnecessary;forhoweverwell—disposedorfavourabletorightmenmaybeconsideredtobeofthemselves,therationalideaofastateofsocietynotyetregulatedbyright,mustbetakenasourstarting—point。Thisideaimpliesthatbeforealegalstateofsocietycanbepubliclyestablished,individualmen,nations,andstates,canneverbesafeagainstviolencefromeachother;andthisisevidentfromtheconsiderationthateveryoneofhisownwillnaturallydoeswhatseemsgoodandrightinhisowneyes,entirelyindependentoftheopinionofothers。Hence,unlesstheinstitutionofrightistoberenounced,thefirstthingincumbentonmenistoaccepttheprinciplethatitisnecessarytoleavethestateofnature,inwhicheveryonefollowshisowninclinations,andtoformaunionofallthosewhocannotavoidcomingintoreciprocalcommunication,andthussubjectthemselvesincommontotheexternalrestraintofpubliccompulsorylaws。Menthusenterintoacivilunion,inwhicheveryonehasitdeterminedbylawwhatshallberecognizedashis;andthisissecuredtohimbyacompetentexternalpowerdistinctfromhisownindividuality。Suchistheprimaryobligation,onthepartofallmen,toenterintotherelationsofacivilstateofsociety。

Thenaturalconditionofmankindneednot,onthisground,berepresentedasastateofabsoluteinjustice,asiftherecouldhavebeennootherrelationoriginallyamongmenbutwhatwasmerelydeterminedbyforce。Butthisnaturalconditionmustberegarded,ifiteverexisted,asastateofsocietythatwasvoidofregulationbyright(statusjustitiaevacuus),sothatifamatterofrightcametobeindispute(juscontroversum),nocompetentjudgewasfoundtogiveanauthorizedlegaldecisionuponit。Itisthereforereasonablethatanyoneshouldconstrainanotherbyforce,topassfromsuchanonjuridicalstateoflifeandenterwithinthejurisdictionofacivilstateofsociety。For,althoughonthebasisoftheideasofrightheldbyindividualsassuch,externalthingsmaybeacquiredbyoccupancyorcontract,yetsuchacquisitionisonlyprovisorysolongasithasnotyetobtainedthesanctionofapubliclaw。Tillthissanctionisreached,theconditionofpossessionisnotdeterminedbyanypublicdistributivejustice,norisitsecuredbyanypowerexercisingpublicright。

Ifmenwerenotdisposedtorecognizeanyacquisitionatallasrightful—eveninaprovisionalway—priortoenteringintothecivilstate,thisstateofsocietywoulditselfbeimpossible。Forthelawsregardingthemineandthineinthestateofnature,containformallytheverysamethingastheyprescribeinthecivilstate,whenitisviewedmerelyaccordingtorationalconceptions:onlythatintheformsofthecivilstatetheconditionsarelaiddownunderwhichtheformalprescriptionsofthestateofnatureattainrealizationconformabletodistributivejustice。Werethere,then,notevenprovisionally,anexternalmeumandtuuminthestateofnature,neitherwouldtherebeanyjuridicaldutiesinrelationtothem;and,consequently,therewouldbenoobligationtopassoutofthatstateintoanother。

45。TheFormoftheStateanditsThreePowers。

Astate(civitas)istheunionofanumberofmenunderjuridicallaws。Theselaws,assuch,aretoberegardedasnecessaryapriori—

thatis,asfollowingofthemselvesfromtheconceptionsofexternalrightgenerally—andnotasmerelyestablishedbystatute。Theformofthestateisthusinvolvedintheideaofthestate,viewedasitoughttobeaccordingtopureprinciplesofright;andthisidealformfurnishesthenormalcriterionofeveryrealunionthatconstitutesacommonwealth。

Everystatecontainsinitselfthreepowers,theuniversalunitedwillofthepeoplebeingthuspersonifiedinapoliticaltriad。

Thesearethelegislativepower,theexecutivepower,andthejudiciarypower。1。Thelegislativepowerofthesovereigntyinthestateisembodiedinthepersonofthelawgiver;2。theexecutivepowerisembodiedinthepersonoftherulerwhoadministerstheLaw;and3。thejudiciarypower,embodiedinthepersonofthejudge,isthefunctionofassigningeveryonewhatishisown,accordingtothelaw(potestaslegislatoria,rectoria,etjudiciaria)。

Thesethreepowersmaybecomparedtothethreepropositionsinapracticalsyllogism:themajorasthesumptionlayingdowntheuniversallawofawill,theminorpresentingthecommandapplicabletoanactionaccordingtothelawastheprincipleofthesubsumption,andtheconclusioncontainingthesentence,orjudgementofright,intheparticularcaseunderconsideration。

46。TheLegislativePowerandtheMembersoftheState。

Thelegislativepower,viewedinitsrationalprinciple,canonlybelongtotheunitedwillofthepeople。For,asallrightoughttoproceedfromthispower,itisnecessarythatitslawsshouldbeunabletodowrongtoanyonewhatever。Now,ifanyoneindividualdeterminesanythinginthestateincontradistinctiontoanother,itisalwayspossiblethathemayperpetrateawrongonthatother;butthisisneverpossiblewhenalldetermineanddecreewhatistobeLawtothemselves。Volentinonfitinjuria。Henceitisonlytheunitedandconsentingwillofallthepeople—insofaraseachofthemdeterminesthesamethingaboutall,andalldeterminethesamethingabouteach—thatoughttohavethepowerofenactinglawinthestate。

Themembersofacivilsocietythusunitedforthepurposeoflegislation,andtherebyconstitutingastate,arecalleditscitizens;andtherearethreejuridicalattributesthatinseparablybelongtothembyright。Theseare:1。constitutionalfreedom,astherightofeverycitizentohavetoobeynootherlawthanthattowhichhehasgivenhisconsentorapproval;2。civilequality,astherightofthecitizentorecognisenooneasasuperioramongthepeopleinrelationtohimself,exceptinsofarassuchaoneisassubjecttohismoralpowertoimposeobligations,asthatotherhaspowertoimposeobligationsuponhim;and3。politicalindependence,asthelighttoowehisexistenceandcontinuanceinsocietynottothearbitrarywillofanother,buttohisownrightsandpowersasamemberofthecommonwealth,and,consequently,thepossessionofacivilpersonality,whichcannotberepresentedbyanyotherthanhimself。

Thecapabilityofvotingbypossessionofthesuffrageproperlyconstitutesthepoliticalqualificationofacitizenasamemberofthestate。Butthis,again,presupposestheindependenceorself—sufficiencyoftheindividualcitizenamongthepeople,asonewhoisnotamereincidentalpartofthecommonwealth,butamemberofitactingofhisownwillincommunitywithothers。Thelastofthethreequalitiesinvolvednecessarilyconstitutesthedistinctionbetweenactiveandpassivecitizenship;althoughthelatterconceptionappearstostandincontradictiontothedefinitionofacitizenassuch。Thefollowingexamplesmayservetoremovethisdifficulty。

Theapprenticeofamerchantortradesman,aservantwhoisnotintheemployofthestate,aminor(naturalitervelciviliter),allwomen,and,generally,everyonewhoiscompelledtomaintainhimselfnotaccordingtohisownindustry,butasitisarrangedbyothers(thestateexcepted),arewithoutcivilpersonality,andtheirexistenceisonly,asitwere,incidentallyincludedinthestate。ThewoodcutterwhomIemployonmyestate;thesmithinIndiawhocarrieshishammer,anvil,andbellowsintothehouseswhereheisengagedtoworkiniron,asdistinguishedfromtheEuropeancarpenterorsmith,whocanoffertheindependentproductsofhislabouraswaresforpublicsale;

theresidenttutorasdistinguishedfromtheschoolmaster;theploughmanasdistinguishedfromthefarmerandsuchlike,illustratethedistinctioninquestion。Inallthesecases,theformermembersofthecontrastaredistinguishedfromthelatterbybeingmeresubsidiariesofthecommonwealthandnotactiveindependentmembersofit,becausetheyareofnecessitycommandedandprotectedbyothers,andconsequentlypossessnopoliticalself—sufficiencyinthemselves。Suchdependenceonthewillofothersandtheconsequentinequalityare,however,notinconsistentwiththefreedomandequalityoftheindividualsasmenhelpingtoconstitutethepeople。

Muchratherisitthecasethatitisonlyundersuchconditionsthatapeoplecanbecomeastateandenterintoacivilconstitution。Butallarenotequallyqualifiedtoexercisetherightofsuffrageundertheconstitution,andtobefullcitizensofthestate,andnotmerepassivesubjectsunderitsprotection。For,althoughtheyareentitledtodemandtobetreatedbyalltheothercitizensaccordingtolawsofnaturalfreedomandequality,aspassivepartsofthestate,itdoesnotfollowthattheyoughtthemselvestohavetherighttodealwiththestateasactivemembersofit,toreorganizeit,ortotakeactionbywayofintroducingcertainlaws。

Alltheyhavearightintheircircumstancestoclaimmaybenomorethanthatwhateverbethemodeinwhichthepositivelawsareenacted,theselawsmustnotbecontrarytothenaturallawsthatdemandthefreedomofallthepeopleandtheequalitythatisconformablethereto;anditmustthereforebemadepossibleforthemtoraisethemselvesfromthispassiveconditioninthestatetotheconditionofactivecitizenship。

47。DignitiesintheStateandtheOriginalContract。

Allthesethreepowersinthestatearedignities;and,asnecessarilyarisingoutoftheideaofthestateandessentialgenerallytothefoundationofitsconstitution,theyaretoberegardedaspoliticaldignities。Theyimplytherelationbetweenauniversalsovereignasheadofthestate—whichaccordingtothelawsoffreedomcanbenoneotherthanthepeopleitselfunitedintoanation—andthemassoftheindividualsofthenationassubjects。Theformermemberoftherelationistherulingpower,whosefunctionistogovern(imperans);thelatteristheruledconstituentsofthestate,whosefunctionistoobey(subditi)。

Theactbywhichapeopleisrepresentedasconstitutingitselfintoastate,istermedtheoriginalcontract。Thisisproperlyonlyanoutwardmodeofrepresentingtheideabywhichtherightfulnessoftheprocessoforganizingtheconstitutionmaybemadeconceivable。

Accordingtothisrepresentation,allandeachofthepeoplegiveuptheirexternalfreedominordertoreceiveitimmediatelyagainasmembersofacommonwealth。Thecommonwealthisthepeopleviewedasunitedaltogetherintoastate。Andthusitisnottobesaidthattheindividualinthestatehassacrificedapartofhisinbornexternalfreedomforaparticularpurpose;buthehasabandonedhiswildlawlessfreedomwholly,inordertofindallhisproperfreedomagainentireandundiminished,butintheformofaregulatedorderofdependence,thatis,inacivilstateregulatedbylawsofright。Thisrelationofdependencethusarisesoutofhisownregulativelawgivingwill。

48。MutualRelationsandCharacteristicsoftheThreePowers。

Thethreepowersinthestate,asregardstheirrelationstoeachother,are,therefore:(1)coordinatewithoneanotherassomanymoralpersons,andtheoneisthusthecomplementoftheotherinthewayofcompletingtheconstitutionofthestate;(2)theyarelikewisesubordinatetooneanother,sothattheonecannotatthesametimeusurpthefunctionoftheotherbywhosesideitmoves,eachhavingitsownprincipleandmaintainingitsauthorityinaparticularperson,butundertheconditionofthewillofasuperior;andfurther,(3)bytheunionofboththeserelations,theyassigndistributivelytoeverysubjectinthestatehisownrights。

Consideredastotheirrespectivedignity,thethreepowersmaybethusdescribed。Thewillofthesovereignlegislator,inrespectofwhatconstitutestheexternalmineandthine,istoberegardedasirreprehensible;theexecutivefunctionofthesupremeruleristoberegardedasirresistible;andthejudicialsentenceofthesupremejudgeistoberegardedasirreversible,beingbeyondappeal。

49。DistinctFunctionsoftheThreePowers。

AutonomyoftheState1。Theexecutivepowerbelongstothegovernororregentofthestate,whetheritassumestheformofamoralorindividualperson,asthekingorprince(rex,princeps)。Thisexecutiveauthority,asthesupremeagentofthestate,appointsthemagistrates,andprescribestherulestothepeople,inaccordancewithwhichindividualsmayacquireanythingormaintainwhatistheirownconformablytothelaw,eachcasebeingbroughtunderitsapplication。Regardedasamoralperson,thisexecutiveauthorityconstitutesthegovernment。Theordersissuedbythegovernmenttothepeopleandthemagistrates,aswellastothehigherministerialadministratorsofthestate(gubernatio),arerescriptsordecrees,andnotlaws;fortheyterminateinthedecisionofparticularcases,andaregivenforthasunchangeable。Agovernmentactingasanexecutive,andatthesametimelayingdownthelawasthelegislativepower,wouldbeadespoticgovernment,andwouldhavetobecontradistinguishedfromapatrioticgovernment。Apatrioticgovernment,again,istobedistinguishedfromapaternalgovernment(regimenpaternale)whichisthemostdespoticgovernmentofall,thecitizensbeingdealtwithbyitasmerechildren。Apatrioticgovernment,however,isoneinwhichthestate,whiledealingwiththesubjectsasiftheyweremembersofafamily,stilltreatsthemlikewiseascitizens,andaccordingtolawsthatrecognizetheirindependence,eachindividualpossessinghimselfandnotbeingdependentontheabsolutewillofanotherbesidehimorabovehim。

2。Thelegislativeauthorityoughtnotatthesametimetobetheexecutiveorgovernor;forthegovernor,asadministrator,shouldstandundertheauthorityofthelaw,andisboundbyitunderthesupremecontrolofthelegislator。Thelegislativeauthoritymaythereforedeprivethegovernorofhispower,deposehim,orreformhisadministration,butnotpunishhim。ThisistheproperandonlymeaningofthecommonsayinginEngland,\"TheKing—asthesupremeexecutivepower—candonowrong。\"Foranysuchapplicationofpunishmentwouldnecessarilybeanactofthatveryexecutivepowertowhichthesupremerighttocompelaccordingtolawpertains,andwhichwoulditselfbethussubjectedtocoercion;whichisself—contradictory。

3。Further,neitherthelegislativepowernortheexecutivepoweroughttoexercisethejudicialfunction,butonlyappointjudgesasmagistrates。Itisthepeoplewhooughttojudgethemselves,throughthoseofthecitizenswhoareelectedbyfreechoiceastheirrepresentativesforthispurpose,andevenspeciallyforeveryprocessorcause。Forthejudicialsentenceisaspecialactofpublicdistributivejusticeperformedbyajudgeorcourtasaconstitutionaladministratorofthelaw,toasubjectasoneofthepeople。Suchanactisnotinvestedinherentlywiththepowertodetermineandassigntoanyonewhatishis。Everyindividualamongthepeoplebeingmerelypassiveinthisrelationtothesupremepower,eithertheexecutiveorthelegislativeauthoritymightdohimwrongintheirdeterminationsincasesofdisputeregardingthepropertyofindividuals。Itwouldnotbethepeoplethemselveswhothusdetermined,orwhopronouncedthejudgementsof\"guilty\"or\"notguilty\"regardingtheirfellow—citizens。Foritistothedeterminationofthisissueinacausethatthecourthastoapplythelaw;anditisbymeansoftheexecutiveauthority,thatthejudgeholdspowertoassigntoeveryonehisown。Henceitisonlythepeoplethatproperlycanjudgeinacause—althoughindirectlyrepresentativeselectedanddeputedbythemselves,asinajury。Itwouldevenbebeneaththedignityofthesovereignheadofthestatetoplaythejudge;forthiswouldbetoputhimselfintoapositioninwhichitwouldbepossibletodowrong,andthustosubjecthimselftothedemandforanappealtoastillhigherpower(aregemaleinformatoadregemmeliusinformandum)。

Itisbytheco—operationofthesethreepowers—thelegislative,theexecutive,andthejudicial—thatthestaterealizesitsautonomy。

Thisautonomyconsistsinitsorganizing,forming,andmaintainingitselfinaccordancewiththelawsoffreedom。Intheirunionthewelfareofthestateisrealized。Salusreipublicaesupremalex。*Bythisisnottobeunderstoodmerelytheindividualwell—beingandhappinessofthecitizensofthestate;for—asRousseauasserts—thisendmayperhapsbemoreagreeablyandmoredesirablyattainedinthestateofnature,orevenunderadespoticgovernment。Butthewelfareofthestate,asitsownhighestgood,signifiesthatconditioninwhichthegreatestharmonyisattainedbetweenitsconstitutionandtheprinciplesofright—aconditionofthestatewhichreasonbyacategoricalimperativemakesitobligatoryuponustostriveafter。

*[\"Thehealthofthestateisthehighestlaw。\"]

ConstitutionalandJuridicalConsequencesarisingfromtheNatureoftheCivilUnion。

A。RightoftheSupremePower;Treason;Dethronement;

Revolution;Reform。

Theoriginofthesupremepowerispracticallyinscrutablebythepeoplewhoareplacedunderitsauthority。Inotherwords,thesubjectneednotreasontoocuriouslyinregardtoitsorigininthepracticalrelation,asiftherightoftheobedienceduetoitweretobedoubted(juscontroversum)。Forasthepeople,inordertobeabletoabjudicatewithatitleofrightregardingthesupremepowerinthestate,mustberegardedasalreadyunitedunderonecommonlegislativewill,itcannotjudgeotherwisethanasthepresentsupremeheadofthestate(summusimperans)wills。Thequestionhasbeenraisedastowhetheranactualcontractofsubjection(pactumsubjectioniscivilis)originallyprecededthecivilgovernmentasafact;orwhetherthepowerarosefirst,andthelawonlyfollowedafterwards,ormayhavefollowedinthisorder。Butsuchquestions,asregardsthepeoplealreadyactuallylivingunderthecivillaw,areeitherentirelyaimless,orevenfraughtwithsubtledangertothestate。

For,shouldthesubject,afterhavingdugdowntotheultimateoriginofthestate,riseinoppositiontothepresentrulingauthority,hewouldexposehimselfasacitizen,accordingtothelawandwithfullright,tobepunished,destroyed,oroutlawed。Alawwhichissoholyandinviolablethatitispracticallyacrimeeventocastdoubtuponit,ortosuspenditsoperationforamoment,isrepresentedofitselfasnecessarilyderivedfromsomesupreme,unblameablelawgiver。Andthisisthemeaningofthemaxim,\"AllauthorityisfromGod\",whichpropositiondoesnotexpressthehistoricalfoundationofthecivilconstitution,butanidealprincipleofthepracticalreason。Itmaybeotherwiserenderedthus:\"Itisadutytoobeythelawoftheexistinglegislativepower,beitsoriginwhatitmay。\"

Henceitfollows,thatthesupremepowerinthestatehasonlyrights,andno(compulsory)dutiestowardsthesubject。Further,iftherulerorregent,astheorganofthesupremepower,proceedsinviolationofthelaws,asinimposingtaxes,recruitingsoldiers,andsoon,contrarytothelawofequalityinthedistributionofthepoliticalburdens,thesubjectmayopposecomplaintsandobjections(gravamina)tothisinjustice,butnotactiveresistance。

TherecannotevenbeanArticlecontainedinthepoliticalconstitutionthatwouldmakeitpossibleforapowerinthestate,incaseofthetransgressionoftheconstitutionallawsbythesupremeauthority,toresistoreventorestrictitinsodoing。For,whoeverwouldrestrictthesupremepowerofthestatemusthavemore,oratleastequal,powerascomparedwiththepowerthatissorestricted;andifcompetenttocommandthesubjectstoresist,suchaonewouldalsohavetobeabletoprotectthem,andifheistobeconsideredcapableofjudgingwhatisrightineverycase,hemayalsopubliclyorderresistance。Butsuchaone,andnottheactualauthority,wouldthenbethesupremepower;whichiscontradictory。

Thesupremesovereignpower,then,inproceedingbyaministerwhoisatthesametimetherulerofthestate,consequentlybecomesdespotic;andtheexpedientofgivingthepeopletoimagine—whentheyhaveproperlyonlylegislativeinfluence—thattheyactbytheirdeputiesbywayoflimitingthesovereignauthority,cannotsomaskanddisguisetheactualdespotismofsuchagovernmentthatitwillnotappearinthemeasuresandmeansadoptedbytheministertocarryouthisfunction。Thepeople,whilerepresentedbytheirdeputiesinparliament,undersuchconditions,mayhaveinthesewarrantorsoftheirfreedomandrights,personswhoarekeenlyinterestedontheirownaccountandtheirfamilies,andwholooktosuchaministerforthebenefitofhisinfluenceinthearmy,navy,andpublicoffices。Andhence,insteadofofferingresistancetotheunduepretensionsofthegovernment—whosepublicdeclarationsoughttocarryaprioraccordonthepartofthepeople,which,however,cannotbeallowedinpeace,theyareratheralwaysreadytoplayintothehandsofthegovernment。Hencetheso—calledlimitedpoliticalconstitution,asaconstitutionoftheinternalrightsofthestate,isanunreality;andinsteadofbeingconsistentwithright,itisonlyaprincipleofexpediency。Anditsaimisnotsomuchtothrowallpossibleobstaclesinthewayofapowerfulviolatorofpopularrightsbyhisarbitraryinfluenceuponthegovernment,asrathertocloakitoverundertheillusionofarightofoppositionconcededtothepeople。

Resistanceonthepartofthepeopletothesupremelegislativepowerofthestateisinnocaselegitimate;foritisonlybysubmissiontotheuniversallegislativewill,thataconditionoflawandorderispossible。Hencethereisnorightofsedition,andstilllessofrebellion,belongingtothepeople。Andleastofall,whenthesupremepowerisembodiedinanindividualmonarch,isthereanyjustification,underthepretextofhisabuseofpower,forseizinghispersonortakingawayhislife(monarchomachismussubspecietyrannicidii)。Theslightestattemptofthiskindishightreason(proditioeminens);andatraitorofthissortwhoaimsattheoverthrowofhiscountrymaybepunished,asapoliticalparricide,evenwithdeath。Itisthedutyofthepeopletobearanyabuseofthesupremepower,eventhenthoughitshouldbeconsideredtobeunbearable。Andthereasonisthatanyresistanceofthehighestlegislativeauthoritycanneverbutbecontrarytothelaw,andmustevenberegardedastendingtodestroythewholelegalconstitution。

Inordertobeentitledtooffersuchresistance,apubliclawwouldberequiredtopermitit。Butthesupremelegislationwouldbysuchalawceasetobesupreme,andthepeopleassubjectswouldbemadesovereignoverthattowhichtheyaresubject;whichisacontradiction。Andthecontradictionbecomesmoreapparentwhenthequestionisput:\"Whoistobethejudgeinacontroversybetweenthepeopleandthesovereign?\"Forthepeopleandthesovereignaretobeconstitutionallyorjuridicallyregardedastwodifferentmoralpersons;butthequestionshowsthatthepeoplewouldthenhavetobethejudgeintheirowncause。

Thedethronementofamonarchmaybealsoconceivedasavoluntaryabdicationofthecrown,andaresignationofhispowerintothehandsofthepeople;oritmightbeadeliberatesurrenderofthesewithoutanyassaultontheroyalperson,inorderthatthemonarchmayberelegatedintoprivatelife。But,howeverithappen,forciblecompulsionofit,onthepartofthepeople,cannotbejustifiedunderthepretextofarightofnecessity(casusnecessitatis);andleastofallcantheslightestrightbeshownforpunishingthesovereignonthegroundofpreviousmaladministration。Forallthathasbeenalreadydoneinthequalityofasovereignmustberegardedasdoneoutwardlybyright;and,consideredasthesourceofthelaws,thesovereignhimselfcandonowrong。Ofalltheabominationsintheoverthrowofastatebyrevolution,eventhemurderorassassinationofthemonarchisnottheworst。Forthatmaybedonebythepeopleoutoffear,lest,ifheisallowedtolive,hemayagainacquirepowerandinflictpunishmentuponthem;andsoitmaybedone,notasanactofpunitivejustice,butmerelyfromregardtoself—preservation。Itistheformalexecutionofamonarchthathorrifiesasoulfilledwithideasofhumanright;andthisfeelingoccursagainandagainasofasthemindrealizesthescenesthatterminatedthefateofCharlesIorLouisXVI。Nowhowisthisfeelingtobeexplained?Itisnotamereaestheticfeeling,arisingfromtheworkingoftheimagination,norfromsympathy,producedbyfancyingourselvesintheplaceofthesufferer。Onthecontrary,itisamoralfeelingarisingfromtheentiresubversionofallournotionsofright。Regicide,inshort,isregardedasacrimewhichalwaysremainssuchandcanneverbeexpiated(crimenimmortale,inexpiabile);anditappearstoresemblethatsinwhichthetheologiansdeclarecanneitherbeforgiveninthisworldnorinthenext。Theexplanationofthisphenomenoninthehumanmindappearstobefurnishedbythefollowingreflectionsuponit;andtheyevenshedsomelightupontheprinciplesofpoliticalright。

Everytransgressionofalawonlycanandmustbeexplainedasarisingfromamaximofthetransgressormakingsuchwrong—doinghisruleofaction;forwereitnotcommittedbyhimasafreebeing,itcouldnotbeimputedtohim。Butitisabsolutelyimpossibletoexplainhowanyrationalindividualformssuchamaximagainsttheclearprohibitionofthelaw—givingreason;foritisonlyeventswhichhappenaccordingtothemechanicallawsofnaturethatarecapableofexplanation。Nowatransgressororcriminalmaycommithiswrong—doingeitheraccordingtothemaximofarulesupposedtobevalidobjectivelyanduniversally,oronlyasanexceptionfromtherulebydispensingwithitsobligationfortheoccasion。Inthelattercase,heonlydivergesfromthelaw,althoughintentionally。Hemay,atthesametime,abhorhisowntransgression,andwithoutformallyrenouncinghisobediencetothelawonlywishtoavoidit。Intheformercase,however,herejectstheauthorityofthelawitself,thevalidityofwhich,however,hecannotrepudiatebeforehisownreason,evenwhilehemakesithisruletoactagainstit。Hismaximis,therefore,notmerelydefectiveasbeingnegativelycontrarytothelaw,butitisevenpositivelyillegal,asbeingdiametricallycontraryandinhostileoppositiontoit。Sofaraswecanseeintoandunderstandtherelation,itwouldappearasifitwereimpossibleformentocommitwrongsandcrimesofawhollyuselessformofwickedness,andyettheideaofsuchextremeperversitycannotbeoverlookedinasystemofmoralphilosophy。

Thereisthusafeelingofhorroratthethoughtoftheformalexecutionofamonarchbyhispeople。Andthereasonitisthat,whereasanactofassassinationmustbeconsideredasonlyanexceptionfromtherulewhichhasbeenconstitutedamaxim,suchanexecutionmustberegardedasacompleteperversionoftheprinciplesthatshouldregulatetherelationbetweenasovereignandhispeople。Foritmakesthepeople,whoowetheirconstitutionalexistencetothelegislationthatissuedfromthesovereign,tobetheruleroverhim。Hencemereviolenceisthuselevatedwithboldbrow,andasitwerebyprinciple,abovetheholiestright;and,appearinglikeanabysstoswallowupeverythingwithoutrecall,itseemslikesuicidecommittedbythestateuponitselfandacrimethatiscapableofnoatonement。Thereisthereforereasontoassumethattheconsentthatisaccordedtosuchexecutionsisnotreallybaseduponasupposedprincipleofright,butonlyspringsfromfearofthevengeancethatwouldbetakenuponthepeoplewerethesamepowertoreviveagaininthestate。Andhenceitmaybeheldthattheformalitiesaccompanyingthemhaveonlybeenputforwardinordertogivethesedeedsalookofpunishmentfromtheaccompanimentofajudicialprocess,suchascouldnotgoalongwithameremurderorassassination。Butsuchacloakingofthedeedentirelyfailsofitspurpose,becausethispretensiononthepartofthepeopleisevenworsethanmurderitself,asitimpliesaprinciplewhichwouldnecessarilymaketherestorationofastate,whenonceoverthrown,animpossibility。

Analterationofthestilldefectiveconstitutionofthestatemaysometimesbequitenecessary。Butallsuchchangesoughtonlytoproceedfromthesovereignpowerinthewayofreform,andarenottobebroughtaboutbythepeopleinthewayofrevolution;andwhentheytakeplace,theyshouldonlyeffecttheexecutive,andnotthelegislative,power。Apoliticalconstitutionwhichissomodifiedthatthepeoplebytheirrepresentativesinparliamentcanlegallyresisttheexecutivepower,anditsrepresentativeminister,iscalledalimitedconstitution。Yetevenundersuchaconstitutionthereisnorightofactiveresistance,asbyanarbitrarycombinationofthepeopletocoercethegovernmentintoacertainactiveprocedure;forthiswouldbetoassumetoperformanactoftheexecutiveitself。Allthatcanrightlybeallowed,isonlyanegativeresistance,amountingtoanactofrefusalonthepartofthepeopletoconcedeallthedemandswhichtheexecutivemaydeemitnecessarytomakeinbehoofofthepoliticaladministration。Andifthisrightwereneverexercised,itwouldbeasuresignthatthepeoplewerecorrupted,theirrepresentativesvenal,thesupremeheadofthegovernmentdespotic,andhisministerspracticallybetrayersofthepeople。

Further,whenonthesuccessofarevolutionanewconstitutionhasbeenfounded,theunlawfulnessofitsbeginningandofitsinstitutioncannotreleasethesubjectsfromtheobligationofadaptingthemselves,asgoodcitizens,totheneworderofthings;andtheyarenotentitledtorefusehonourablytoobeytheauthoritythathasthusattainedthepowerinthestate。Adethronedmonarch,whohassurvivedsucharevolution,isnottobecalledtoaccountonthegroundofhisformeradministration;andstilllessmayhebepunishedforit,whenwithdrawingintotheprivatelifeofacitizenheprefershisownquietandthepeaceofthestatetotheuncertaintyofexile,withtheintentionofmaintaininghisclaimsforrestorationatallhazards,andpushingtheseeitherbysecretcounter—revolutionorbytheassistanceofotherpowers。However,ifhepreferstofollowthelattercourse,hisrightsremain,becausetherebellionthatdrovehimfromhispositionwasinherentlyunjust。

Butthequestionthenemergesastowhetherotherpowershavetherighttoformthemselvesintoanallianceinbehalfofsuchadethronedmonarchmerelyinordernottoleavethecrimecommittedbythepeopleunavenged,ortodoawaywithitasascandaltoallthestates;andwhethertheyarethereforejustifiedandcalledupontorestorebyforcetoanotherstateaformerlyexistingconstitutionthathasbeenremovedbyarevolution。Thediscussionofthisquestion,however,doesnotbelongtothisdepartmentofpublicright,buttothefollowingsection,concerningtherightofnations。

B。LandRights。SecularandChurchLands,RightsofTaxation;

Finance;Police;Inspection。

Isthesovereign,viewedasembodyingthelegislativepower,toberegardedasthesupremeproprietorofthesoil,oronlyasthehighestrulerofthepeoplebythelaws?Asthesoilisthesupremeconditionunderwhichitisalonepossibletohaveexternalthingsasone’sown,itspossiblepossessionanduseconstitutethefirstacquirablebasisofexternalright。Henceitisthatallsuchrightsmustbederivedfromthesovereignasoverlordandparamountsuperiorofthesoil,or,asitmaybebetterput,asthesupremeproprietoroftheland(dominusterritorii)。Thepeople,asformingthemassofthesubjects,belongtothesovereignasapeople;notinthesenseofhisbeingtheirproprietorinthewayofrealright,butastheirsupremecommanderorchiefinthewayofpersonalright。Thissupremeproprietorship,however,isonlyanideaofthecivilconstitution,objectifiedtorepresent,inaccordancewithjuridicalconceptions,thenecessaryunionoftheprivatepropertyofallthepeopleunderapublicuniversalpossessor。Therelationissorepresentedinorderthatitmayformabasisforthedeterminationofparticularrightsinproperty。Itdoesnotproceed,therefore,upontheprincipleofmereaggregation,whichadvancesempiricallyfromthepartstothewhole,butfromthenecessaryformalprincipleofadivisionofthesoilaccordingtoconceptionsofright。

Inaccordancewiththisprinciple,thesupremeuniversalproprietorcannothaveanyprivatepropertyinanypartofthesoil;forotherwisehewouldmakehimselfaprivateperson。Privatepropertyinthesoilbelongsonlytothepeople,takendistributivelyandnotcollectively;fromwhichcondition,however,anomadicpeoplemustbeexceptedashavingnoprivatepropertyatallinthesoil。Thesupremeproprietoraccordinglyoughtnottoholdprivateestates,eitherforprivateuseorforthesupportofthecourt。For,asitwoulddependuponhisownpleasurehowfartheseshouldextend,thestatewouldbeindangerofseeingallpropertyinthelandtakenintothehandsofthegovernment,andallthesubjectstreatedasbondsmenofthesoil(glebaeadscripti)。Aspossessorsonlyofwhatwastheprivatepropertyofanother,theymightthusbedeprivedofallfreedomandregardedasserfsorslaves。Ofthesupremeproprietoroftheland,itmaybesaidthathepossessesnothingashisown,excepthimself;forifhepossessedthingsinthestatealongsideofothers,disputeandlitigationwouldbepossiblewiththeseothersregardingthosethings,andtherewouldbenoindependentjudgetosettlethecause。Butitmayalsobesaidthathepossesseseverything;forhehasthesupremerightofsovereigntyoverthewholepeople,towhomallexternalthingsseverally(divisim)belong;andassuchheassignsdistributivelytoeveryonewhatistobehis。

Hencetherecannotbeanycorporationinthestate,noranyclassororder,thatasproprietorscantransmitthelandforasoleexclusiveusetothefollowinggenerationsforalltime(adinfinitum),accordingtocertainfixedstatutes。Thestatemayannulandabrogateallsuchstatutesatanytime,onlyundertheconditionofindemnifyingsurvivorsfortheirinterests。Theorderofknights,constitutingthenobilityregardedasamererankorclassofspeciallytitledindividuals,aswellastheorderoftheclergy,calledthechurch,arebothsubjecttothisrelation。Theycanneverbeentitledbyanyhereditaryprivilegeswithwhichtheymaybefavoured,toacquireanabsolutepropertyinthesoiltransmissibletotheirsuccessors。Theycanonlyacquiretheuseofsuchpropertyforthetimebeing。Ifpublicopinionhasceased,onaccountofotherarrangements,toimpelthestatetoprotectitselffromnegligenceinthenationaldefencebyappealtothemilitaryhonouroftheknightlyorder,theestatesgrantedonthatconditionmayberecalled。

And,inlikemanner,thechurchlandsorspiritualitiesmaybereclaimedbythestatewithoutscruple,ifpublicopinionhasceasedtoimpelthemembersofthestatetomaintainmassesforthesoulsofthedead,prayersfortheliving,andamultitudeofclergy,asmeanstoprotectthemselvesfrometernalfire。Butinbothcases,theconditionofindemnifyingexistinginterestsmustbeobserved。

Thosewhointhisconnectionfallunderthemovementofreformarenotentitledtocomplainthattheirpropertyistakenfromthem;forthefoundationoftheirpreviouspossessionlayonlyintheopinionofthepeople,anditcanbevalidonlysolongasthisopinionlasts。Assoonasthispublicopinioninfavourofsuchinstitutionsdiesout,orisevenextinguishedinthejudgementofthosewhohavethegreatestclaimbytheiracknowledgedmerittoleadandrepresentit,theputativeproprietorshipinquestionmustcease,asifbyapublicappealmaderegardingittothestate(aregemaleinformatoadregemmeliusinformandum)。

Onthisprimarilyacquiredsupremeproprietorshipinthelandreststherightofthesovereign,asuniversalproprietorofthecountry,toassesstheprivateproprietorsofthesoil,andtodemandtaxes,excise,anddues,ortheperformanceofservicetothestatesuchasmayberequiredinwar。Butthisistobedonesothatitisactuallythepeoplethatassessthemselves,thisbeingtheonlymodeofproceedingaccordingtolawsofright。Thismaybeeffectedthroughthemediumofthebodyofdeputieswhorepresentthepeople。Itisalsopermissible,incircumstancesinwhichthestateisinimminentdanger,toproceedbyaforcedloan,asarightvestedinthesovereign,althoughthismaybeadivergencefromtheexistinglaw。

Uponthisprincipleisalsofoundedtherightofadministeringthenationaleconomy,includingthefinanceandthepolice。Thepolicehasspeciallytocareforthepublicsafety,convenience,anddecency。

Asregardsthelastofthese—thefeelingornegativetasteforpublicpropriety—itisimportantthatitbenotdeadenedbysuchinfluencesasbegging,disorderlynoises,offensivesmells,publicprostitution(Venusvulgivaga),orotheroffencesagainstthemoralsense,asitgreatlyfacilitatesthegovernmentinthetaskofregulatingthelifeofthepeoplebylaw。

Forthepreservationofthestatetherefurtherbelongstoitarightofinspection(jusinspectionis),whichentitlesthepublicauthoritytoseethatnosecretsociety,politicalorreligious,existsamongthepeoplethatcanexertaprejudicialinfluenceuponthepublicweal。Accordingly,whenitisrequiredbythepolice,nosuchsecretsocietymayrefusetolayopenitsconstitution。Butthevisitationandsearchofprivatehousesbythepolicecanonlybejustifiedinacaseofnecessity;andineveryparticularinstance,itmustbeauthorizedbyahigherauthority。

C。ReliefofthePoor。FoundlingHospitals。TheChurch。

Thesovereign,asundertakerofthedutyofthepeople,hastherighttotaxthemforpurposesessentiallyconnectedwiththeirownpreservation。Suchare,inparticular,thereliefofthepoor,foundlingasylums,andecclesiasticalestablishments,otherwisedesignatedcharitableorpiousfoundations。

1。Thepeoplehaveinfactunitedthemselvesbytheircommonwillintoasociety,whichhastobeperpetuallymaintained;andforthispurposetheyhavesubjectedthemselvestotheinternalpowerofthestate,inordertopreservethemembersofthissocietyevenwhentheyarenotabletosupportthemselves。Bythefundamentalprincipleofthestate,thegovernmentisjustifiedandentitledtocompelthosewhoareable,tofurnishthemeansnecessarytopreservethosewhoarenotthemselvescapableofprovidingforthemostnecessarywantsofnature。Fortheexistenceofpersonswithpropertyinthestateimpliestheirsubmissionunderitforprotectionandtheprovisionbythestateofwhatisnecessaryfortheirexistence;andaccordinglythestatefoundsarightuponanobligationontheirparttocontributeoftheirmeansforthepreservationoftheirfellowcitizens。Thismaybecarriedoutbytaxingthepropertyorthecommercialindustryofthecitizens,orbyestablishingfundsanddrawinginterestfromthem,notforthewantsofthestateassuch,whichisrich,butforthoseofthepeople。Andthisisnottobedonemerelybyvoluntarycontributions,butbycompulsoryexactionsasstate—burdens,forwearehereconsideringonlytherightofthestateinrelationtothepeople。Amongthevoluntarymodesofraisingsuchcontributions,lotteriesoughtnottobeallowed,becausetheyincreasethenumberofthosewhoarepoor,andinvolvedangertothepublicproperty。Itmaybeaskedwhetherthereliefofthepooroughttobeadministeredoutofcurrentcontributions,sothateveryageshouldmaintainitsownpoor;orwhetherthiswerebetterdonebymeansofpermanentfundsandcharitableinstitutions,suchaswidows’homes,hospitals,etc。?Andiftheformermethodisthebetter,itmayalsobeconsideredwhetherthemeansnecessaryaretoberaisedbyalegalassessmentratherthanbybegging,whichisgenerallynighakintorobbing。Theformermethodmustinrealityberegardedastheonlyonethatisconformabletotherightofthestate,whichcannotwithdrawitsconnectionfromanyonewhohastolive。Foralegalcurrentprovisiondoesnotmaketheprofessionofpovertyameansofgainfortheindolent,asistobefearedisthecasewithpiousfoundationswhentheygrowwiththenumberofthepoor;norcanitbechargedwithbeinganunjustorunrighteousburdenimposedbythegovernmentonthepeople。

2。Thestatehasalsoarighttoimposeuponthepeoplethedutyofpreservingchildrenexposedfromwantorshame,andwhowouldotherwiseperish;foritcannotknowinglyallowthisincreaseofitspowertobedestroyed,howeverunwelcomeinsomerespectsitmaybe。

Butitisadifficultquestiontodeterminehowthismaymostjustlybecarriedout。Itmightbeconsideredwhetheritwouldnotberighttoexactcontributionsforthispurposefromtheunmarriedpersonsofbothsexeswhoarepossessedofmeans,asbeinginpartresponsiblefortheevil;andfurther,whethertheendinviewwouldbebestcarriedoutbyfoundlinghospitals,orinwhatotherwayconsistentwithright。Butthisisaproblemofwhichnosolutionhasyetbeenofferedthatdoesnotinsomemeasureoffendagainstrightormorality。

3。Thechurchishereregardedasanecclesiasticalestablishmentmerely,andassuchitmustbecarefullydistinguishedfromreligion,whichasaninternalmodeoffeelinglieswhollybeyondthesphereoftheactionofthecivilpower。Viewedasaninstitutionforpublicworshipfoundedforthepeople—towhoseopinionorconvictionitowesitsorigin—thechurchestablishmentrespondstoarealwantinthestate。ThisistheneedfeltbythepeopletoregardthemselvesasalsosubjectsofaSupremeInvisiblePowertowhichtheymustpayhomage,andwhichmayofbebroughtintoaveryundesirablecollisionwiththecivilpower。Thestatehasthereforearightinthisrelation;butitisnottoberegardedastherightofconstitutionallegislationinthechurch,soastoorganizeitasmayseemmostadvantageousforitself,ortoprescribeandcommanditsfaithandritualformsofworship(ritus);

forallthismustbeleftentirelytotheteachersandrulerswhichthechurchhaschosenforitself。Thefunctionofthestateinthisconnection,onlyincludesthenegativerightofregulatingtheinfluenceofthesepublicteachersuponthevisiblepoliticalcommonwealth,thatitmaynotbeprejudicialtothepublicpeaceandtranquility。Consequentlythestatehastotakemeasures,onoccasionofanyinternalconflictinthechurch,oronoccasionofanycollisionoftheseveralchurcheswitheachother,thatcivilconcordisnotendangered;andthisrightfallswithintheprovinceofthepolice。Itisbeneaththedignityofthesupremepowertointerposeindeterminingwhatparticularfaiththechurchshallprofess,ortodecreethatacertainfaithshallbeunalterablyheld,andthatthechurchmaynotreformitself。Forindoingso,thesupremepowerwouldbemixingitselfupinascholasticwrangle,onafootingofequalitywithitssubjects;themonarchwouldbemakinghimselfapriest;andthechurchmenmightevenreproachthesupremepowerwithunderstandingnothingaboutmattersoffaith。

Especiallywouldthisholdinrespectofanyprohibitionofinternalreforminthechurch;forwhatthepeopleasawholecannotdetermineuponforthemselvescannotbedeterminedforthepeoplebythelegislator。Butnopeoplecaneverrationallydeterminethattheywillneveradvancefartherintheirinsightintomattersoffaith,orresolvethattheywillneverreformtheinstitutionsofthechurch;becausethiswouldbeopposedtothehumanityintheirownpersonsandtotheirhighestrights。Andthereforethesupremepowercannotofitselfresolveanddecreeinthesemattersforthepeople。