Common Sense

Imagine a time when a few settlers find themselves in a vast wilderness, isolated and unconnected to the outside world. Their survival depends not only on their individual strength but on their ability to cooperate. Society arises naturally from such human needs, a bond formed by mutual wants and affections. In this early stage, laws are but gentle agreements, often unenforced save by the public's esteem or disdain. The settlers gather under a large tree, their first state-house, to deliberate on matters that affect their common welfare. This is the seedbed of government, a construct born not of utopian virtue but of human imperfection and wickedness.

Government, unlike society, is not a positive force but a necessary evil. It exists to restrain the vices that would otherwise disrupt the harmony of society. It is the badge of lost innocence, a mark that man’s impulses alone are insufficient to maintain order. As the colony grows, it becomes impractical for everyone to meet and decide every matter. Thus, they select representatives to act on their behalf, but with a crucial safeguard: frequent elections. This frequent interchange ensures that representatives do not form interests separate from those who elected them, preserving the fidelity of governance.

The English constitution, often lauded, is critiqued here for its complexity and contradictions. The monarchy and aristocracy are hereditary and independent of the people, while the commons, though representing the people, are often overwhelmed by the crown’s power. This imbalance results in a system where the crown holds the true governing weight, sustained by patronage and national pride rather than reason. Thus, the English government is a complex machine, but one whose moving parts rarely check the power of the king effectively.

Reflecting on this, one sees that the simplest forms of government are often the most stable and repairable. The settlers’ early regulations, enforced by community consensus, are far less prone to disorder than the convoluted structures of monarchy and aristocracy. It is the strength of the people’s voice and their direct accountability that form the foundation for free and secure governance. As we leave this first chapter, we are invited to consider the origins of monarchy and hereditary succession, and how these institutions diverge from the natural rights and equality of mankind.

Let us now turn to the next chapter, where the story of kings and their claims unfolds, revealing the deep flaws and dangers of hereditary rule.