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Locke, John

"Second Treatise Of Government"

the
preservation of the rest; but the disposing of his goods has
nothing to do with it.
Sec. 140. It is true, governments cannot be supported
without great charge, and it is fit every one who enjoys his
share of the protection, should pay out of his estate his
proportion for the maintenance of it. But still it must be with
his own consent, i.e. the consent of the majority, giving it
either by themselves, or their representatives chosen by them:
for if any one shall claim a power to lay and levy taxes on the
people, by his own authority, and without such consent of the
people, he thereby invades the fundamental law of property, and
subverts the end of government: for what property have I in that,
which another may by right take, when he pleases, to himself?
Sec. 141. Fourthly, The legislative cannot transfer the
power of making laws to any other hands: for it being but a
delegated power from the people, they who have it cannot pass it
over to others. The people alone can appoint the form of the
common-wealth, which is by constituting the legislative, and
appointing in whose hands that shall be. And when the people
have said, We will submit to rules, and be governed by laws made
by such men, and in such forms, no body else can say other men
shall make laws for them; nor can the people be bound by any
laws, but such as are enacted by those whom they have chosen, and
authorized to make laws for them.


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