On the Foundation of Civil Govenment. 509 



moft probably endure to pofterity for an indefinite 

 length of time. Thus England enjoys the benefit 

 of the exertions of the people under the tyrants 

 John, Charles, and James even at this day : the 

 evils of thofe exertions were confined to a gene- 

 ration or two. 



Such are the principal deduflions, from that 

 grand maxim, the very corner ftone of legiti- 

 mate government, that all power is derived from 

 the people. Dedudlions, which the rulers of the 

 earth have feldom inclined to admit, as they 

 tend to the abolition of ufurped authority. But 

 thofe only will inveigh againft promulgating the 

 civil rights of mankind, who either mean to in- 

 fringe thofe rights,*" or have fome interefl or 

 other in defending thofe who do. Sedition a- 

 gainfl the officers of government, is a fruitful 

 fource of criminal jurifdiftion; while fedition 

 againft the majefty of the people, is a crime un- 

 known to the penal code, and univerfally prac- 

 tifed with impunity and in cafes out of number 

 arrogated as a right, by the fervants of the peo- 

 ple in every nation upon earth. 



The ftrufture of political opprefTion however, 

 begins now to totter : its day is far fpent : the 

 extenfion of knowledge has undermined its foun- 

 dations, and I hope the day is not far diftant 

 when in Europe at leaft, one ftone of the fabric 

 will not be left upon another. 



Observations 



