Whensoever therefore the
legislative shall transgress this fundamental rule of society;
and either by ambition, fear, folly or corruption, endeavour to
grasp themselves, or put into the hands of any other, an absolute
power over the lives, liberties, and estates of the people; by
this breach of trust they forfeit the power the people had put
into their hands for quite contrary ends, and it devolves to the
people, who. have a right to resume their original liberty, and,
by the establishment of a new legislative, (such as they shall
think fit) provide for their own safety and security, which is
the end for which they are in society. What I have said here,
concerning the legislative in general, holds true also concerning
the supreme executor, who having a double trust put in him, both
to have a part in the legislative, and the supreme execution of
the law, acts against both, when he goes about to set up his own
arbitrary will as the law of the society. He acts also contrary
to his trust, when he either employs the force, treasure, and
offices of the society, to corrupt the representatives, and gain
them to his purposes; or openly preengages the electors, and
prescribes to their choice, such, whom he has, by sollicitations,
threats, promises, or otherwise, won to his designs; and employs
them to bring in such, who have promised before-hand what to
vote, and what to enact.
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