Page:A Declaration of the People's Natural Right to a Share in the Legislature (1775) (IA declarationofpeo00shar).djvu/27

 (among the the Grecians) “were made upon the proposal of the Magistrate, with the Knowledge and by the Command of the People, and so,” (as it were,) “in the way of bargain or stipulation,” (says he,) “they gave them the name of Covenants and Agreements beforementioned:” and yet he will not allow (notwithstanding such authority) that they are properly stiled “Covenants,” having puzzled himself with the difference between a national Covenant, and Covenant of individuals; “for, in this last case,” (says he,) “a person that dissents is not bound, and the party cannot proceed without him; whereas, in the former case, even the dissenting Party is tied and obliged by the plurality of votes." Now the learned Baron has not been aware that this very reason, which he himself has assigned, confirms the propriety of that ancient custom which he condemns, (viz. the applying the name Covenants and Agreements to Laws,) for, he allows, that “the dissenting Party is tied and obliged by the plurality of votes,” and, therefore, even a whole nation, in that case, may be said to act as an individual; because, “that to