It is true,
that whatever engagements or promises any one has made for
himself, he is under the obligation of them, but cannot, by any
compact whatsoever, bind his children or posterity: for his son,
when a man, being altogether as free as the father, any act of
the father can no more give away the liberty of the son, than it
can of any body else: he may indeed annex such conditions to the
land, he enjoyed as a subject of any common-wealth, as may oblige
his son to be of that community, if he will enjoy those
possessions which were his father's; because that estate being
his father's property, he may dispose, or settle it, as he
pleases.
Sec. 117. And this has generally given the occasion to
mistake in this matter; because commonwealths not permitting any
part of their dominions to be dismembered, nor to be enjoyed by
any but those of their community, the son cannot ordinarily enjoy
the possessions of his father, but under the same terms his
father did, by becoming a member of the society; whereby he puts
himself presently under the government he finds there
established, as much as any other subject of that common-wealth.
And thus the consent of freemen, born under government, which
only makes them members of it, being given separately in their
turns, as each comes to be of age, and not in a multitude
together; people take no notice of it, and thinking it not done
at all, or not necessary, conclude they are naturally subjects as
they are men.
Pages:
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110