4539. LAWS OF NATURE, Writers on.—
Those who write treatises of natural law,
can only declare what their own moral sense
and reason dictate in the several cases they
state. Such of them as happen to have feelings
and a reason coincident with those of the wise
and honest part of mankind, are respected and
quoted as witnesses of what is morally right
or wrong in particular cases. Grotius, Puffendorf,
Wolf, and Vattel are of this number.
Where they agree their authority is strong;
but where they differ (and they often differ),
we must appeal to our own feelings and reason
to decide between them.—
Opinion on French Treaties. Washington ed. vii, 618.
Ford ed., vi, 225.
(1793)
