7301. REPUBLIC, First principle of.—
The first principle of republicanism in that
the lex majoris partis is the fundamental law
of every society of individuals of equal right;
to consider the will of the society enounced
by the majority of a single vote, as sacred as
if unanimous, is the first of all lessons of importance,
yet the last which is thoroughly
learnt. This law once disregarded, no other
remains but that of force, which ends necessarily
in military despotism.—
To Baron Humboldt. Washington ed. vii, 75.
Ford ed., x, 89.
(M.
1817)
