§. 226. Thirdly: I answer, that this power in the people of providing for
their safety anew by a new legislative when their legislators have acted
contrary to their trust by invading their property, is the best fence against
rebellion, and the probable means to hinder it. For rebellion being an
opposition, not to persons, but authority, which is founded only in the
constitutions and laws of the government: those, whoever they be, who, by
force, break through, and, by force, justify their violation of them, are truly
and properly rebels. For when men, by entering into society and civil
government, have excluded force, and introduced laws for the preservation of
property, peace, and unity amongst themselves, those who set up force again in
opposition to the laws, do rebellare — that is, bring back again the state
of war, and are properly rebels, which they who are in power, by the pretence
they have to authority, the temptation of force they have in their hands, and
the flattery of those about them being likeliest to do, the proper way to
prevent the evil is to show them the danger and injustice of it who are under
the greatest temptation to run into it.
