Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/181

Rh treated in the ame manner themelves, if proper meaures were not taken to prevent it, they thought fit to make laws for the reward of good men, and the punihment of offenders. This firt gave rie to jutice in the world; and from this conideration it came to pas, in proces of time, that, in the election of a new chief, they had not o much, regard to courage and bodily trength, as to widom and integrity: but afterwards, as this kind of government became gradually hereditary intead of elective, the heirs of thee chieftains oon began to degenerate from the virtue of their ancetors, and to behave themelves as if they thought the main duty of a prince conited in urpaing all other men in luxury, extravagance, effeminacy, and every ort of voluptuounes; by which, in a while, they firt grew odious to their ubjects, and then o jealous for themelves, that they were forced to ditres and cut off others for their own ecurity, and at lat to become downright tyrants. This firt occaioned combinations and conpiracies for the detruction of princes; not amongt the weak and puillanimous part of their ubjects, but among uch as, being more eminent for their generoity, magnanimiicy, riches, and birth, could not endure any longer to ubmit to thee pitiful and oppreive governments.

The multitude, therefore, wayed by the authority of the nobles, roe in arms againt their prince; and being freed from his yoke, transferred their allegiance to their deliverers, who, being thoroughly diguted at monarchy, changed the form of government, and took it into their own hands: after which they conducted both themelves and the tate according to the plan they had formed, preferring the common good to any particular advantage; and behaving, in private as well as public affairs,