country. It is here indeed, if ever, that man is fometimes found a detached and a folitary being: he has found an object which fets him in competition with his fellow-creatures, and he deals with them as he does with his cattle and his soil, for the fake of the profits they bring. The mighty engine which we fuppofe to have formed fociety, only tends to fet its members at variance, or to continue their intercourfe after the bands of affection are broken.

“TH

66

SECT.

IV.

Of the principles of War and Diffenfion.

HERE are fome circumftances in the lot of mankind," fays Socrates," that fhew them to be de"ftined to friendship and amity: Those are, their mutual “need of each other; their mutual compaffion; their "fense of mutual benefits; and the pleasures arising in

company. There are other circumstances which prompt. "them to war and diffenfion; the admiration and the "defire which they entertain for the fame fubjects; their "oppofite pretenfions; and the provocations which they mutually offer in the course of their competitions.”

66

WHEN We endeavour to apply the maxims of natural justice to the folution of difficult queftions, we find that fome cafes may be supposed, and actually happen, where

oppofitionss

oppofitions take place, and are lawful, prior to any provocation, or act of injuftice; that where the fafety and preservation of numbers are mutually inconfiftent, one party may employ his right of defence, before the other has begun an attack. And when we join with fuch examples, the instances of mistake, and mifunderstanding, to which mankind are expofed, we may be fatisfied that war does not always proceed from an intention to injure; and that even the best qualities of men, their candour, as well as their refolution, may operate in the midst of their quarrels.

THERE is ftill more to be observed on this subject. Mankind not only find in their condition the fources of variance and diffenfion; they appear to have in their minds the feeds of animofity, and to embrace the occafions of mutual oppofition, with alacrity and pleasure. In the most pacific fituation there are few who have not their enemies, as well as their friends; and who are not pleased with oppofing the proceedings of one, as much as with favouring the designs of another. Small and fimple tribes, who in their domestic fociety have the firmest union, are in their ftate of oppofition as feparate nations, frequently animated with the most implacable hatred. Among the citizens of Rome, in the early ages of that republic, the name of a foreigner, and that of an enemy, were the fame. Among the Greeks, the name of Barbarian, under which that people comprehended every nation that was of a race, and fpoke a language, different from their own, became a term

of

of indiscriminate contempt and averfion. Even where no particular claim to fuperiority is formed, the repugnance to union, the frequent wars, or rather the perpetual hoftilities, which take place among rude nations and feparate clans, discover how much our fpecies is difpofed to oppofition, as well as to concert.

LATE difcoveries have brought us to the knowledge of almost every situation in which mankind are placed. We have found them fpread over large and extensive continents, where communications are open, and where national confederacy might be easily formed. We have found them in narrower diftricts, circumfcribed by mountains, great rivers, and arms of the fea. They have been found in small islands, where the inhabitants might be eafily affembled, and derive an advantage from their union. But in all thofe fituations, alike, they were broke into cantons, and affected a diftinction of name and community. The titles of fellowcitizen and countryman, unoppofed to thofe of alien and foreigner, to which they refer, would fall into difufe, and lose their meaning. We love individuals on account of perfonal qualities; but we love our country, as it is a party in the divifions of mankind; and our zeal for its intereft, is a predilection in behalf of the fide we maintain.

In the promifcuous concourfe of men, it is fufficient that we have an opportunity of felecting our company. We turn away from those who do not engage us, and we fix our refort where the fociety is more to our mind. We

are fond of diftinctions; we place ourselves in opposition, and quarrel under the denominations of faction and party, without any material fubject of controverfy. Averfion, like affection, is fostered by a continued direction to its particular object. Separation and estrangement, as well as oppofition, widen a breach which did not owe its beginnings to any offence. And it would seem, that till we have reduced mankind to the state of a family, or found fome external confideration to maintain their connection in greater numbers, they will be for ever separated into bands, and form a plurality of nations.

THE sense of a common danger, and the affaults of an enemy, have been frequently ufeful to nations, by uniting their members more firmly together, and by preventing the feceffions and actual feparations in which their civil difcord might otherwife terminate. And this motive to union which is offered from abroad, may be neceffary, not only in the cafe of large and extensive nations, where coalitions are weakened by distance, and the distinction of provincial names; but even in the narrow fociety of the fmalleft ftates. Rome itself was founded by a small party, which took its flight from Alba; her citizens were often in danger of feparating; and if the villages and cantons of the Volfci had been further removed from the fcene of their diffenfions, the Mons Sacer might have received a new colony before the mothercountry was ripe for fuch a difcharge. She continued

long

long to feel the quarrels of her nobles and her people; and the gates of Janus were frequently opened, to remind her inhabitants of the duties they owed to their country.

IF focieties, as well as individuals, be charged with the care of their own prefervation, and if in both we apprehend a feparation of intereft, which may give rife to jealoufies and competitions, we cannot be surprised to find hoftilities arife from this fource. But were there no angry paffions of a different fort, the animofities which attend an oppofition of intereft, fhould bear a proportion to the supposed value of the subject. "The Hottentot na"tions," fays Kolben, " trespass on each other by thefts "of cattle and of women; but fuch injuries are seldom "committed, except with a view to exasperate their neigh"bours, and bring them to a war." Such depredations then are not the foundation of a war, but the effects of a hostile intention already conceived. The nations of North America, who have no herds to preserve, nor fettlements to defend, are yet engaged in almoft perpetual wars, for which they can affign no reafon, but the point of honour, and a defire to continue the ftruggle their fathers maintained. They do not regard the spoils of an enemy; and the warrior who has feized any booty, easily parts with it to the first person who comes in his way *.

* See Charlevoix's history of Canada.

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