The Nature and Office of the State (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1848. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VI. THE GOVERNMENT OP THE STATE. The foundation of supreme authority in the State.--Such authority naturally belongs to the possessors of political power.--Supreme political power founded on physical power.--Theoretical inference that supreme political authority should be shared equally by all possessors of coercive physical power.--Variance in practice of States from this rule Cause of this variance Maxim that property gives political power, examined.--True effect of property.--General law announced that the balance of political power follows the balance of physical power in political action.--Proofs and illustrations The political distinguished from the military action of physical power.--Application of foregoing doctrine to explain Constitutions.--Purpose of a Constitution: to collect and enforce the will of the holders of political power.--Inefficiency of Constitutions which distribute authority differently from the actual distribution of power.--Constitutions good or bad, not abstractly, but as they are or are not accurate organs of the political power in the nation.--Notice of different Constitutional forms.--Explanation of various political phenomena Tendency of Society towards Democratic government. The foregoing inquiries have shown us the general nature and function of the body politic. It is a true moral society, and has a duty to discharge, which can be generally described if not precisely defined. We have seen that it has a special connexion with the physical strength of man, and with the land in which he dwells. We have determined the import of that connexion; and have traced the outline of those principles of action which States are bound to follow as the lords of coercive power and the proprietors of territory. Having thus learned ...