493 On the Foundation of Civil Governmetit. 



XV. Hence, excepting thofe rights which it 

 would be inconfiftent with the ends of fociety to 

 renounce, or that are unneceflary to the ends of 

 fociety, or connefted with duties of prior or 

 fnperior obligation to thofe of fociety — the intereft 

 of amy one or any number of individuals confti- 

 tuting the minority only, muft be prefumed to 

 be conceded where it interferes with the intereit 

 of the majority. 



XVI. Hence alfo, for every practical purpofe 

 the majority is fynonimous with the fociety. 



XVII. The fame reafons will hold with refpeft 

 to all thofe cafes where the opinions of the indi- 

 viduals who compofe the fociety, are requifite 

 concerning any propofed means of compafling 

 the ends of fociety. For if the opinions of the 

 few were in all cafes to be deemed of equal 

 weight with the opinions of the many, the objeft 

 of fociety would be perpetually fruftrated, nor 

 could fociety itfelf long exift* 



XVIII. Moreover, in all cafes where the fenti- 

 ments of the majority cannot be afcertained 

 numeratim or individually, it muft of neceftity be 

 prefumed that an oHive majority is a true majo- 

 rity : for where every one may be adlive who 

 chufes, the prefumption is ec|ual on both fides 

 of the queftion concerning thofe who are appa- 

 rently neuter. Hence, whenever an opportunity 

 is given to all, publicly to fignify their fenti- 

 ments on any general quellions, the majority of 



thofe 



