Since then those,
who like one another so well as to join into society, cannot but
be supposed to have some acquaintance and friendship together,
and some trust one in another; they could not but have greater
apprehensions of others, than of one another: and therefore their
first care and thought cannot but be supposed to be, how to
secure themselves against foreign force. It was natural for them
to put themselves under a frame of government which might best
serve to that end, and chuse the wisest and bravest man to
conduct them in their wars, and lead them out against their
enemies, and in this chiefly be their ruler.
Sec. 108. Thus we see, that the kings of the Indians in
America, which is still a pattern of the first ages in Asia and
Europe, whilst the inhabitants were too few for the country, and
want of people and money gave men no temptation to enlarge their
possessions of land, or contest for wider extent of ground, are
little more than generals of their armies; and though they
command absolutely in war, yet at home and in time of peace they
exercise very little dominion, and have but a very moderate
sovereignty, the resolutions of peace and war being ordinarily
either in the people, or in a council. Tho' the war itself,
which admits not of plurality of governors, naturally devolves
the command into the king's sole authority.
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