Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1801 Excerpt: ...of policy not proceeding upon this principle, is a species of tyranny, more properly than a form of government. "Nations or states," fays Vatel, "are bodies politic; societies of men united toge"ther, to procure their mutual. safety and ad"vantage, by means of their union. ct Each society has its particular affairs and. interests; it deliberates and takes resolutions "in common, and thus becomes a moral pe' ' son, having an understanding and a will pecu' liar to itself, and being susceptible of obliga"tions and laws.' Now, from this definition of bodies politic, tinder whatever form they may be distinguished, a consequence follows, of the utmost importance to our cause. Civil societies are states of equality; a parity of right is established by nature between them, and obliges them, if they do their duty, to have a reciprocal regard for each other's welfare and tranquillity. Hence the general principle of the law of nations is nothing more, than the general law of sociability, which obliges all nations, that have any intercourse with each other, to practise those duties to which individuals are naturally subject. And considering bodies politic as moral persons, it is plain there can be but one sole and the same rule of justice.and common right, for all mankind. I cannot adduce any stronger arguments to prove, that from the commencement of civil society, a set of invariable rules or maxims must have been established for the government of the whole human race, to enable them to advance towards the perfection of their natures, and to live like rational beings. Notwithstanding these maxims may have been lost in ages of barbarism, obscured by bigotry and Mid superstition or. obstructed by modern policy, yet, they are not the le...
