ABSTRACT

The body politic, taken individually, may be considered as an organised, living body, resembling that of man. The rules of the former are found only in the writings of those philosophers who venture to proclaim the rights of humanity. The first and most important rule of legitimate or popular government, that is to say, of government whose object is the good of the people, is to follow in everything the general will. The author argues that, as the first duty of the legislator is to make the laws conformable to the general will, the first rule of public economy is that the administration of justice should be conformable to the laws. The second essential rule of public economy is no less important than the first. Public education, under regulations prescribed by the government, and under magistrates established by the Sovereign, is one of the fundamental rules of popular or legitimate government.