On the Foundation of Civil Government. 487 



dominion was improperly obtained by the govern- 

 ors originally, the forcible continuance'of it by 

 their fuccelTors, cannot make their authority 

 equitable. Long continuance cannot alter the 

 nature of iniquity and convert it into juftice. 

 (c) This fource of dominion would fanftify the 

 grofleft tyranny and defpotifm. (d)\x. may well 

 be denied that there is any thing in the mere 

 circumftance of being born in this or that part 

 of the globe, that can equitably fubjecft any one 

 to the perpetual government of any other of his 

 fellow-creatures : and if it be placed upon the 

 circumftance of the parents being fubjefls, the 

 preceding objedlions to parental acquiejcence^ 

 apply, (e) This anfwer converts human beings 

 into a fpecies of property, (f) It is contrary 

 to the maxim, that allegiance and proteftion arc 

 reciprocal, for a man may renounce proteclion. 

 (g) It makes the people born for the govern- 

 ment, inftead of the government being created 

 for the people. 



7. Is it not derived from prefcription^ from long 

 continuance ? 



No : for it could not have been of long conti- 

 nuance when it was firft exercifed j and if it 

 could, prefcription gives no right but in the 

 pofitive inftitutes of municipal law j even there, 

 feries annorum non confecrat errorem, 



I i 4 8. Does 



