being mutual benefactors, conformably with the first Canon, are oppressors on the one part and the oppressed on the other; as it may be otherwise expressed, tyrants and slaves. Some or all of the governed are bound by the acts of others, without their own consent. The first and second Canons are contravened, and thereby the Law of God is superseded by the inventions of

men.

V.

41. The provisions of the compacts entered into must all be conformable with the first Canon; otherwise such provisions are utterly null and void, to all intents and purposes whatever. And all just provisions must be strictly observed during the whole continuance of the compacts.

Thus, suppose an agreement entered into, between two persons, the one to serve the other for equitable wages. Thus far, there is nothing but what does conform to the first Canon; but it would be infringed, if it was understood, that a servant was to assist his master in robbing on the highway; it would also be infringed, if the master refused to pay the servant his wages, for lawful services.

VI.

42. Both parties must be fully capable of entering into the particular engagement that is to exist between them. And they must do it entirely of their own wills, and therefore free from all control, of what nature or kind soever.

VII.

43. Should one of the contracting parties be willing, through ignorance, to allow either expressly, or by implication, any stipulation prejudicial to himself, herself, or themselves, the other is bound to prevent its introduction.'

Under every possible combination of circumstances, love worketh no ill to his neighbour.' Consequently, the obligations entered into between two or more, whatever the relation may be, should be mutually and fully understood. Thus, for example, it is not for a moment supposable, in a right constitution of things, that the nature of the duties incumbent on political governors

C

and the governed, is not fully understood: namely, that a representative is delegated, for a certain period, to uphold all such measures as he honestly considers most conducive to the wellbeing of his nation. And his constituents are bound to support him to the utmost of their ability.

VIII.

44. NEITHER PARTY CAN, BY VIRTUE OF THE OBLIGATION OR RIGHT WITH WHICH THE RELATION ENTERED INTO INVESTS HIM, HER, OR THEM, DO ANY THING, THAT SHALL AFFECT THE OBLIGATIONS OR RIGHTS OF EITHER OF THE PARTIES, IN ANY WAY WHATEVER CONTRAVENING THE FIRST CANON.

IX.

45. The parties to a compact, or any portion of them, cannot, either expressly or by implication, stipulate to do any thing, which shall in any way whatever be prejudicial to any person or persons, not parties to the compact. Nor can such an agreement be entered into, after the relation has commenced, or during its whole continuance.

This is obvious, from what we have just observed—that, under every possible combination of circumstances, love worketh no ill to his neighbour.' It follows, therefore, from the first and second Canons, that all associations, that are not productive of unmixed good, not only to their particular members, but to all other persons, who may in any way be affected by them, cannot lawfully be entered into. The Divine Being having so constituted things, that in all countries, and in all ages, whatever relations exist between men, all such relations, if they are in accordance with his will, shall harmoniously work together, not only for the good of all who stand in any particular relation, but of all who are not so related. For example, two persons who stand in the relation of husband and wife, may educe the highest degree of good, not only to themselves, but to their country at large, by presenting it, in the persons of their children, with good citizens, and to some individuals in particular, in those children making good husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, &c. Again, in a rightly constituted government, both the governors and governed are mutually benefitted by the relation existing between them; but if they concur in unjustifiably invading a foreign nation, the present Canon is obviously infringed. CONSEQUENTLY, ALL ASSOCIATIONS, WHETHER POLITICAL, COMMERCIAL, OR OF WHAT KIND SOEVER,

THE OBJECT OF ENTERING INTO, OR MAINTAINING WHICH, IS TO PREJUDICE, IN ANY MANNER WHATEVER, THOSE WHO ARE NOT MEMBERS OF SUCH ASSOCIATIONS, ARE ABSOLUTELY AND UTTERLY UNLAWFUL

In the sight of HEAVEN. Hence the following question arises, namely,—if some of the members of an association apply the powers they derive from associating to any unlawful purpose; whilst others refuse to participate in the pecuniary or other advantage therefrom derivable-whether the latter may lawfully continue members of the association? Suppose two or more persons were to enter into a commercial association, one of the members of which enriched it by any unjust practices, in such a case, it would not be sufficient for his partner or partners to refuse to participate in the unhallowed gains ;-but he or they is or are bound altogether to dissolve the partnership, or at least, utterly to refuse, to allow the unjust partner to pursue the improper practices. The application of this to a political associa tion is reserved for the second part of the Essay.

X.

46. The compact is in full force, only, whilst both the contracting parties perform what they stipulated.

If a master declines longer to allow a servant his agreed wages, it is clear all compact is at end, and the former can have no further right to the services of the latter. The husband, who for a time, without cause, refuses to allow the wife a maintenance, strictly speaking, has little claim on her affection, though, from the great inconveniences resulting from a dissolution of the marriage bond, on slight occasions, it is clearly the will of God, that a neglect of some duties on the one part, releases not from the performance of duties on the other. (Mat. v. 32.) This may be the happy means of reclaiming the offending party, as to the one not culpable, it may be said- What knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or, how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? (1 Cor. vii. 16.) With regard to the compact between a political representative and his constituents, there can be no reason why the majority of the latter should not at any time have the power of terminating it, by nominating another person to be their representative, if the one first appointed does not perform his duty.

XI.

47. All obligations or rights must have reference to things or persons: to the former, of possession; to the latter, of controlling and being controlled. And

If

the distinction, between rights as to persons and things, is this: the former is transferable, the latter is not. a man has a house, he may assign the ownership of it to another, but the obligation and right of controlling and being controlled, whenever lawfully existing, necessarily arising out of a compact, whatever the relation may be, can never be assigned without the consent of both parties to the compact. Nor in some cases, even with this, as in the case of husband and wife.

The essence of all compacts being, that the duties arising out of them, whatever the relation may be, shall be performed by the particular parties to such compact, and no other, the compact being entered into, because the parties to it are considered by one another to be peculiarly eligible for the particular duties they have to perform, and of which the contracting parties are the sole judges, each for himself. Thus in the case of the political representative and his constituents, an essential part of the compact is, that the person delegated by the electors, shall perform the office in person: this is so imperative a duty, that even electors themselves (if one can suppose a thing so improbable as that they had the inclination) do not possess the power of allowing it to be transferred:-the nature of the obligation they are under to Heaven, and to each other, binding them to use their utmost ability, that proper persons shall be appointed to constitute a government. The allowing their representative to perform his duty by proxy, would therefore be betraying that trust which is vested in them by God. And if the electors cannot transfer this power, much less can the elected.

XII.

48. The appointment of those who are to make and execute the laws of any nation, must in all things rigorously conform to the first Canon. All the laws, and their execution, must also agree with it. And property in the land, and other things, must be held in strict accordance with laws so made and executed. Consequently, no legal title, in any nation or age, as to any person or persons whatever, as to his, her, or their right, to make or execute the laws of a nation, or hold property of any kind by virtue of such laws, can accrue, without the appointment of the makers and executors of the law,-the laws them

selves, and their execution, do in all things rigorously conform to the first Canon.

The only lawful mode in which any nation, in any age, can establish or maintain a government, is for all the native adult males to hold a great electoral assembly; and determine,first, what number of persons they will have to make and execute the laws:-then, who those persons shall be :-and, lastly, for what time they shall exercise their functions. At the expiration of this period, the electoral assembly must be again formed, and proceed in a similar manner; and the nation must thus act, throughout all its generations. When we speak of such an assembly, it will of course not be supposed we mean for all the men of a nation to congregate together. They may have separate meetings, in their several districts; each company electing its own representative, or representatives. And thus, all the parts, having a unity of purpose, may not inaptly be styled the great electoral assembly. It shall, in its proper place, be incontestably proved,-first, that the mode here pointed out, is the only one in accordance with the will of God; and that other modes, in which national constitutions may be set up and maintained, are necessarily in opposition to the divine will. In speaking hereafter of the rights of the female sex, it will be shown, that in all nations and ages, all women should, conformably with this holy will, be excluded from any share in political power.

XIII.

49. The possession of property in the land, or other things, acquired in a way not agreeing with laws made as mentioned in the last Canon, is absolutely and utterly unlawful. One person, or any number of persons, therefore, holding property so unlawfully acquired, can have no right either to keep or transfer it. And the original acquirer, and all through whose hands such miscalled right may have passed, whatever number of generations may have elapsed, in receiving and holding it, have contravened the first Canon.

XIV.

50. Under the divine law, there can be no such thing as an imperfect obligation or right.

51. This is evident from considering, that for any imperfection to exist, it must arise either as to persons, or property.