The principles of moral and political philosophy by Paley William 1743-1805

Author:Paley, William, 1743-1805. [from old catalog]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ethics, Utilitarianism
Publisher: Boston: Printed for John West, no. 75, Cornhill, by E. Lincoln
Published: 1801-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

HI. Irregularity in the firft foundation of a ftate,

or fubfequent violence, fraud, or injullice in getting

pofleffion of the fupreme power, are not fufficient

, reafons for refinance, after the government is once

peaceably fetded. NofiifcjeaoftheBrki&efnpirecofi-ceives himfelf eogaged to vindicate the juftice of the Norman daim,or conqueft^or apprehends that his duty in any manner depends upon that controverfy. So Kkewife if the Houfe of Lancafter, or even the pofter-ity of Cromwell, had been at this day feated upon the throne of England, we fliould have been a« little concerned to inquire how the foufid<er of the family-came therje. No civil contefts are fo futtle, idthough none have been fo furious and (anguinary, as thofe which are excited by a difputed fucceflion.

IV. Not every invafion of the fubject's ri^ts, or liberty, or of the conftitution ; not every breach of •promife,or of oath.; not every ftretch of prerogative, abufe of power, or neglect of duty by the chief magiftrate, or by the whole or any branch of the le-giflative body, juftifies refiftance, unlefs thefe crim^ draw after them public confequences of fufficient ^magnitude to outweigh the evils of civil difturbance. Neverthelefe, every violation of the conftitution ought to be watched with jealoufy, and refented as/z/^i&,1>eyond what the quantity of eftimable damage would require or warrant; becaufea knownand fettled ufage of governing affords the only fecurity againft the enormities of uncontrolled dominion, and becaufc this fecurity is weakened by every encroachment which is made without oppofition, or oppofed without effeft.

V. No ufage, law, or authority whatever, is fo binding that it need or ought to be continued, when it may be changed with advantage to the community. The ftimily of the prince, the order of fucceffion, -the

}>rerogative of the crown, the form and parts of the cgiflature, together with the refpe£tive powers, office, duration and mutual dependency of the feveral J>arts, are all only fo many laws^ mutable like other aws whenever expediency requires,.either by the ordinary aft of the legiflature, or, if the occafion de-ferve it, by the interpofition of the people. Thefe points are wont to be approached with a kind «f awe; they are reprefented to the mind as principles

eSt the coBfiitulion fettled by our amceftors, and, be-Mig fettled, to be no more committed to innovation or debate y as foundations never to be fiirred; as-the terms and conditions of the focial compa<^, to which every citizen of the fiate has engaged his fidelity,by virtue of apromife, which he.cannot now recall. Such reafons have no place in our fyftem ; to us, if there be any * good reafon for treating thefe vKth more deference and refpeA than other laws, it is, either the advantage of the prefent conftitution of government (which reafon muft be of differ^t force in diflFerent countries) or becaufe in all countries, it is of importance, that the fofm and ufage of governing be acknowledged and underftood, as well by the governors as by the governed, and becaufe the fel« domer it is changed, the more perfedly it will be known by both fides.

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