486 On the Foundation of Civil Government. 



apply, and the then government would no 

 longer be binding, (f) All the objedions to 

 theiaft anfwer (the third) apply in fubftance to 

 this, (g) This anfvvef, like the reft, \i ^ gratis 

 di^um J an unproved affertion. 



5 . 'the ■perjonal acquiefcence of the governed, under 

 the government exifling. 



If fuch an acquiefcence be the refult of force, 

 and inability to refift, it amounts to nothing, and 

 is no real acquiefcence. If it be voluntary, it 

 amounts to an implied affent, and then the 

 perfons governed are fo governed with their 

 own confent. As applied to the origin of govern- 

 ment, this fource of authority thus exprefled 

 cannot be admitted j for none then exifted. 



6. // may be f aid that men are born fuhjeSls of 

 fome particular Jlate^ and that in confequence of this, 

 they owe perpetual allegiance to the government 

 thereof. 



This has been, and Rill is faid, but it has 

 never been proved, (b) It applies not to the 

 origin of government, and before the particular 

 ftate in queftion was conftituted : and it may 

 here be obferved once for ail, that as none 

 of the nations upon earth has exifted as a poli- 

 tical community from all eternity, every fuch 

 political community muft have had an origin, 

 or beginning of fome kind; and if the political 



dominion 



