贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > part20 >

第11章

part20-第11章

小说: part20 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!




and legislative; and deciding by a jury of themselves; in all

judiciary cases in which any fact is involved;) or they may act by

representatives; freely and equally chosen; that it is their right

and duty to be at all times armed; that they are entitled to freedom

of person; freedom of religion; freedom of property; and freedom of

the press。  In the structure of our legislatures; we think experience

has proved the benefit of subjecting questions to two separate bodies

of deliberants; but in constituting these; natural right has been

mistaken; some making one of these bodies; and some both; the

representatives of property instead of persons; whereas the double

deliberation might be as well obtained without any violation of true

principle; either by requiring a greater age in one of the bodies; or

by electing a proper number of representatives of persons; dividing

them by lots into two chambers; and renewing the division at frequent

intervals; in order to break up all cabals。  Virginia; of which I am

myself a native and resident; was not only the first of the States;

but; I believe I may say; the first of the nations of the earth;

which assembled its wise men peaceably together to form a fundamental

constitution; to commit it to writing; and place it among their

archives; where every one should be free to appeal to its text。  But

this act was very imperfect。  The other States; as they proceeded

successively to the same work; made successive improvements; and

several of them; still further corrected by experience; have; by

conventions; still further amended their first forms。  My own State

has gone on so far with its _premiere ebauche_; but it is now

proposing to call a convention for amendment。  Among other

improvements; I hope they will adopt the subdivision of our counties

into wards。  The former may be estimated at an average of twenty…four

miles square; the latter should be about six miles square each; and

would answer to the hundreds of your Saxon Alfred。  In each of these

might be; 1。 An elementary school。 2。 A company of militia; with its

officers。 3。 A justice of the peace and constable。 4。 Each ward

should take care of their own poor。 5。 Their own roads。 6。 Their own

police。 7。 Elect within themselves one or more jurors to attend the

courts of justice。 And 8。 Give in at their Folk…house; their votes

for all functionaries reserved to their election。  Each ward would

thus be a small republic within itself; and every man in the State

would thus become an acting member of the common government;

transacting in person a great portion of its rights and duties;

subordinate indeed; yet important; and entirely within his

competence。  The wit of man cannot devise a more solid basis for a

free; durable and well administered republic。




        With respect to our State and federal governments; I do not

think their relations correctly understood by foreigners。  They

generally suppose the former subordinate to the latter。  But this is

not the case。  They are co…ordinate departments of one simple and

integral whole。  To the State governments are reserved all

legislation and administration; in affairs which concern their own

citizens only; and to the federal government is given whatever

concerns foreigners; or the citizens of other States; these functions

alone being made federal。  The one is the domestic; the other the

foreign branch of the same government; neither having control over

the other; but within its own department。  There are one or two

exceptions only to this partition of power。  But; you may ask; if the

two departments should claim each the same subject of power; where is

the common umpire to decide ultimately between them?  In cases of

little importance or urgency; the prudence of both parties will keep

them aloof from the questionable ground: but if it can neither be

avoided nor compromised; a convention of the States must be called;

to ascribe the doubtful power to that department which they may think

best。  You will perceive by these details; that we have not yet so

far perfected our constitutions as to venture to make them

unchangeable。  But still; in their present state; we consider them

not otherwise changeable than by the authority of the people; on a

special election of representatives for that purpose expressly: they

are until then the _lex legum_。




        But can they be made unchangeable?  Can one generation bind

another; and all others; in succession forever?  I think not。  The

Creator has made the earth for the living; not the dead。  Rights and

powers can only belong to persons; not to things; not to mere matter;

unendowed with will。  The dead are not even things。  The particles of

matter which composed their bodies; make part now of the bodies of

other animals; vegetables; or minerals; of a thousand forms。  To what

then are attached the rights and powers they held while in the form

of men?  A generation may bind itself as long as its majority

continues in life; when that has disappeared; another majority is in

place; holds all the rights and powers their predecessors once held;

and may change their laws and institutions to suit themselves。

Nothing then is unchangeable but the inherent and unalienable rights

of man。




        I was glad to find in your bo ok a formal contradition; at

length; of the judiciary usurpation of legislative powers; for such

the judges have usurped in their repeated decisions; that

Christianity is a part of the common law。  The proof of the contrary;

which you have adduced; is incontrovertible; to wit; that the common

law existed while the Anglo…Saxons were yet Pagans; at a time when

they had never yet heard the name of Christ pronounced; or knew that

such a character had ever existed。  But it may amuse you; to shew

when; and by what means; they stole this law in upon us。  In a case

of _quare impedit_ in the Year…book 34。 H。 6。 folio 38。 (anno 1458;)

a question was made; how far the ecclesiastical law was to be

respected in a common law court?  And Prisot; Chief Justice; gives

his opinion in these words; ‘A tiel leis qu' ils de seint eglise ont

en _ancien scripture_; covient a nous a donner credence; car ceo

common ley sur quels touts manners leis sont fondes。  Et auxy; Sir;

nous sumus obleges de conustre lour ley de saint eglise: et

semblablement ils sont obliges de conustre nostre ley。  Et; Sir; si

poit apperer or a nous que l'evesque ad fait come un ordinary fera en

tiel cas; adong nous devons ceo adjuger bon; ou auterment nemy;' &c。

See S。 C。 Fitzh。 Abr。 Qu。 imp。 89。 Bro。 Abr。 Qu。 imp。 12。  Finch in

his first book; c。 3。 is the first afterwards who quotes this case;

and mistakes it thus。  ‘To such laws of the church as have warrant in

_holy scripture_; our law giveth credence。' And cites Prisot;

mistranslating _‘ancien scripture;'_ into _‘holy scripture。'_ Whereas

Prisot palpably says; ‘to such laws as those of holy church have in

_antient writing_; it is proper for us to give credence;' to wit; to

their _antient written_ laws。  This was in 1613; a century and a half

after the dictum of Prisot。 Wingate; in 1658; erects this false

translation into a maxim of the common law; copying the words of

Finch; but citing Prisot。 Wing。 Max。 3。  And Sheppard; title;

‘Religion;' in 1675; copies the same mistranslation; quoting the Y。

B。 Finch and Wingate。  Hale expresses it in these words;

‘Christianity is parcel of the laws of England。' 1 Ventr。 293。 3 Keb。

607。  But he quotes no authority。  By these echoings and re…echoings

from one to another; it had become so established in 1728; that in

the case of the King _vs。_ Woolston; 2 Stra。 834; the court would not

suffer it to be debated; whether to write against Christianity was

punishable in the temporal court at common law?  Wood; therefore;

409; ventures still to vary the phrase; and say; that all blasphemy

and profaneness are offences by the common law; and cites 2 Stra。

Then Bla

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的