502 On the Foundation of Civil Government, 



XXVI. It is a queftion, however, much more 

 difficult to determine, whether the right of fuf- 

 frage, fhould be in any degree regulated by the 

 poffeflion of fropertyy or be confidered as a right 

 fimply attached to the per/on. For my own part, 

 after much confideration, I incline to think that 

 a line of exclufion may be drawn, and that no 

 injuflice is done by debarring thofe from voting 

 in the choice of national reprefentatives, who on 

 account of their poverty, are exempted from the 

 payment of all taxes. For, firft, no perfon can 

 demand to interfere in framing laws, who con- 

 tributes nothing to the expence of enacting or 

 enforcing them. Secondly, Nor can any one 

 demand this, who pofieffes no oftenfible pledge 

 that he will fubmit to the execution of them. 

 Thirdly, By far the greatefl: part of laws relate 

 to objedls in which fuch a perfon has no intereft. 

 For inftance, it is abfurd to give a right of 

 legiflating concerning the property of others, to 

 thofe who have none of their own ; and who 

 rifk nothing on the event of their own regula- 

 tions. Fourthly, A certain quantity of territory 

 is efTentially necelTary to the exiftence of a poli- 

 tical community ; and it is optional to the pof- 

 feflbrs thereof, to admit or rejeft as members of 

 the community upon their own terms, thofe 

 ■who have no proprietary or ufufruduary right 

 to any part of fuch territory ; provided alfo it be 



left optional to the latter, to accept or rejeft a 



memberlhip 



