Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

into those who obey from prejudice; thofe whe obey from reafon; and those who obey from felf-intereft.

I. They who obey from prejudice, are determined by an opinion of right in their governors; which opinion is founded upon prescription. In monarchies and ariftocracies which are hereditary, the prescription operates in favour of particular families; in republics and elective offices, in favour of particular forms of government, or conftitutions. Nor is it to be wondered at, that mankind fhould reverence authority founded in prefcription, when they obferve that it is prescription which confers the title to almost every thing elfe. The whole course, and all the habits of civil life, favour this prejudice. Upon what other foundation ftands any man's right to his eftate? The right of primogeniture, the fucceffion of kindred, the defcent of property, the inheritance of honours, the demand of tythes, tolls, rents, or fervices from the eftates of others, the right of way, the powers of office and magiftracy, the privileges of nobility, the immunities of the clergy-upon what are they all founded, in the apprehenfion at least of the multitude, but upon prescription? To what elfe, when the claims are contefted, is

the

the appeal made? It is natural to transfer the fame principle to the affairs of government, and to regard thofe exertions of power, which have been long exercised and acquiefced in, as fo many rights in the fovereign; and to confider obedience to his commands, within certain accustomed limits, as enjoined by that rule of confcience, which requires us to render to every man his due.

In hereditary monarchies, the prescriptive title is corroborated, and its influence confiderably augmented, by an acceffion of religious fentiments, and by that facrednefs which men are wont to afcribe to the perfons of princes. Princes themselves have not failed to take advantage of this difpofition, by claiming a fuperior dignity, as it were, of nature, or a peculiar delegation from the Supreme Being. For this purpose were introduced the titles of sacred majesty, of God's anointed, reprefentative, vicegerent, together with the ceremonies of inveftitures and coronations, which are calculated not fo much to recognize the authority of fovereigns, as to confecráte their perfons. Where a fabulous religion permitted it, the public veneration has been challenged by bolder pretenfions. The Roman emperors ufurped the titles, and arro

gated

1

gated the worship of gods. The mythology of the heroic ages, and of many barbarous nations, was easily converted to this purpose. Some princes, like the herocs of Homer, and the founder of the Roman name, derived their birth from the gods: others, with Numa, pretended a fecret communication with fome divine being: and others again, like the incas of Peru, and the ancient Saxon kings, extracted their defcent from the deities of their country. The Lama of Thibet, at this day, is held forth to his fubjects, not as the offspring or fucceffor of a divine race of princes, but as the immortal God himself, the object at once of civil obedience and religious adoration. This inftance is fingular, and may be accounted the fartheft point to which the abuse of human credulity has ever been carried. But in all these inftances the purpose was the fame-to engage the reverence of mankind, by an application to their religious principles.

The reader will be careful to observe, that in this article we denominate every opinion, whether true or false, a prejudice, which is not founded upon argument, in the mind of the perfon who entertains it.

II. They who obey from reafon, that is to fay, from confcience as inftructed by reasonings

and

and conclufions of their own, are determined by the confideration of the neceffity of fome government or other; the certain mischief of civil commotions; and the danger of refettling the government of their country better, or at all, if once fubverted or disturbed.

III. They who obey from felf-intereft, are kept in order by want of leifure; by a fucceffion of private cares, pleasures, and engagements; by contentment, or a fenfe of the eafe, plenty, and fafety, which they enjoy; or laftly and principally, by fear, forefeting that they would bring themselves by rcfiftance into a worfe fituation than their prefent, inafmuch as the ftrength of government, cach difcontented fubject reflects, is greater than his own, and he knows not that others would join him. This laft confideration has often been called opinion of power.

This account of the principles by which mankind are retained in their obedience to civil government, may fuggeft the following cau

tions:

1. Let civil governors learn from hence to respect their fubjects; let them be admonished, that the physical ftrength refides in the governed; that this ftrength wants only to be felt and

[blocks in formation]

roused, to lay proftrate the most ancient and confirmed dominion; that civil authority is founded in opinion; that general opinion therefore ought always to be treated with deference, and managed with delicacy and circumfpection.

2. Opinion of right always following the custom, being for the most part founded in nothing else, and lending one principal fupport to government, every innovation in the constitution, or, in other words, in the custom of governing, diminishes the stability of government. Hence fome abfurdities are to be retained, and many fmall inconveniences endured in every country, rather than that the usage should be violated, or the courfe of public affairs diverted from their old and smooth channel. Even names are not indifferent. When the multitude are to be dealt with, there is a charm in founds. It was upon this principle, that feveral ftatefmen of thofe times advifed Cromwell to affume the title of King, together with the ancient ftyle and infignia of royalty. The minds of many, they contended, would be brought to acquiefce in the authority of a King, who fufpected the office, and were offended with the adminiftration, of a Protector. Novelty reminded them of ufurpation. The adverfaries of this defign oppofed the

2

measure,

« AnteriorContinua »