§. 155. It may be demanded here, what if the executive power, being possessed
of the force of the commonwealth, shall make use of that force to hinder the
meeting and acting of the legislative, when the original constitution or the
public exigencies require it? I say, using force upon the people, without
authority, and contrary to the trust put in him that does so, is a state of war
with the people, who have a right to reinstate their legislative in the
exercise of their power. For having erected a legislative with an intent they
should exercise the power of making laws, either at certain set times, or when
there is need of it, when they are hindered by any force from what is so
necessary to the society, and wherein the safety and preservation of the people
consists, the people have a right to remove it by force. In all states and
conditions the true remedy of force without authority is to oppose force to it.
The use of force without authority always puts him that uses it into a state of
war as the aggressor, and renders him liable to be treated accordingly.
