14 -^n Inquiry into the Principles of Taxation. 



certain conftitutional reftriftions ; whilft the other 

 is unconditional, and without all rational control. 

 A juft government is obliged to the moft fcru- 

 pulous attention to the original ends of its infti- 

 tution. Nor can even wife and legitimate ends 

 be purfued by means inconfiftent with equity, 

 becaufe no policy can ever fuperfede the laws 

 of morality. And this rather dignifies, than de- 

 rogates from, fovereign dominion. For the Deity 

 himfelf is bounded, in the exercife of power, not 

 only by phyfical impoflibilities, but by the refti- 

 tude of his divine nature. 



Compulfion has been faid to be the effence of 

 government.* But, I apprehend, compulfion is 

 here miftaken for a power to compel -y otherwife, 

 there can be no diftinflion between government 

 and tyranny. The former is inftituted for the 

 public weal, and, when fo adminiftered as to pro- 

 mote its falutary ends, will have the confidence, 

 the refpedt, and the voluntary obedience of a great 

 majority of ifs members. Whereas the latter, 

 according to a recent definition of eaftern defpo- 

 tifm, regards " the fovereign as poffefled of ally 

 and the people of no rights." It exads what a 

 wife man cannot freely give, and commands what 

 a good man ought not to perform. " The ftate 

 " of every king," fays the preamble to one of 

 our adls of parliament, " confifts more afluredly 



* Soame Jenyns. 



■ " in 



