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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 January 2012
Chap. I
Of government
A people is either under a state of civil government, or in a state of civil war; or neither under a state of civil government, nor in a state of civil war.
Civil government is an art whereby a people rule themselves, or are ruled by others.
The art of civil government in general is twofold: national or provincial.
National government is that by which a nation is governed independendy, or within itself.
Provincial government is that by which a province is governed dependendy, or by some foreign prince or state.
A people is neither governed by themselves, nor by others, but by reason of some external principle thereto forcing them.
Force is of two kinds, natural and unnatural.
Natural force consists in the vigour of principles, and their natural necessary operations.
Unnatural force is an external or adventitious opposition to the vigour of principles and their necessary working, which, from a violation of nature, is called violence.
National government is an effect of natural force, or vigour.
Provincial government is an effect of unnatural force, or violence.
The natural force which works or produces national government (of which only I shall speak hereafter) consists in riches.
The man that cannot live upon his own must be a servant; but he that can live upon his own may be a freeman.
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