He was fittest to be
trusted; paternal affection secured their property and interest
under his care; and the custom of obeying him, in their
childhood, made it easier to submit to him, rather than to any
other. If therefore they must have one to rule them, as
government is hardly to be avoided amongst men that live
together; who so likely to be the man as he that was their common
father; unless negligence, cruelty, or any other defect of mind
or body made him unfit for it? But when either the father died,
and left his next heir, for want of age, wisdom, courage, or any
other qualities, less fit for rule; or where several families
met, and consented to continue together; there, it is not to be
doubted, but they used their natural freedom, to set up him, whom
they judged the ablest, and most likely, to rule well over them.
Conformable hereunto we find the people of America, who (living
out of the reach of the conquering swords, and spreading
domination of the two great empires of Peru and Mexico) enjoyed
their own natural freedom, though, caeteris paribus, they
commonly prefer the heir of their deceased king; yet if they find
him any way weak, or uncapable, they pass him by, and set up the
stoutest and bravest man for their ruler.
Sec. 106. Thus, though looking back as far as records give
us any account of peopling the world, and the history of nations,
we commonly find the government to be in one hand; yet it
destroys not that which I affirm, viz.
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