. An enquiry into the foundation and history of the law of nations in Europe, from the time of the Greeks and Romans, to the age of Grotius. By Robert Ward, ... In two volumes. ... for theNatural Law, as is properly and uniformlylaid down, is univerfal and immutable. Yet weall know the immenfe diverfity of fentimentconcerning real Interejl which there is, andmuft be, where there is no common pofitiveReligion to decide upon it with authority ; andin fpeaking merely of a natural Law, allidea of fuch a religion muft be left out of thequeftion. (/) Even with a pofitive Religion, much dif-ference o
. An enquiry into the foundation and history of the law of nations in Europe, from the time of the Greeks and Romans, to the age of Grotius. By Robert Ward, ... In two volumes. ... for theNatural Law, as is properly and uniformlylaid down, is univerfal and immutable. Yet weall know the immenfe diverfity of fentimentconcerning real Interejl which there is, andmuft be, where there is no common pofitiveReligion to decide upon it with authority ; andin fpeaking merely of a natural Law, allidea of fuch a religion muft be left out of thequeftion. (/) Even with a pofitive Religion, much dif-ference of opinion has arifen upon variouspoints of the Law of Nations, For example;one of the reafons which produced the Trea-tife of Vattel, was a revolting afTertion ofWolf (whom he owns for his Mafter) thatthe life of poifoned arms, was legiti?nate inwar. [m\ Some of VatteVs own pbfitions inOther parts of his fubjecl:, feem to me, onhis own principles, to be equally capable ofconteft. For example, he founds the naturalobligation of Nations to cultivate commerce,folely upon its utility ? and though he owns (/) See Note c. page 6* (m) Vattel Dr. des Gens, Prelim. 13, 14, D 3 that. 38 OBLIGATION OF NATURAL LAW. that one nation may refufe to trade with thereft, yet if it do fo without good reafon^ heaffirms it will be guilty of a breach of duty.(/2)—But if utility is the fole caufe of this obli-gation, it mud be obvious that its univerfalitymuft entirely depend upon this, that all man-kind confider commerce in the fame lightwith Vattel^ which is known not to be thecafe, (o) Who then can decide with clearnefs uponthe Law of Nature itfelf, when extended intoall the minute ramifications of a particularSyftem, upon which all mankind are by nomeans agreed ? A great and very old queftion thereforearifes, concerning the Obligation ofNatural Law as far as it isfuppofed to tieus down to the obfervance of one^ certain^ anddetailed fcheme of duties•, and no other : Inother words to the purfuit
Size: 2168px × 1153px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1700, bookdecade1790, bookidenquiryintof, bookyear1795
