Trenchard, Gordon, "The Cato's Letters" : fiche de lecture

Résumé du document

Trenchard defended the proposition that government rests on popular consent but conditionned by common sense, human judgement and established to the protection of life, liberty and property of its citizens. Still, rebellion is permissible when this government subverts the goals for which it is established (...)

Extraits

[...] John Trenchard went on solving the problems related to the powers of the magistrate. So, he stressed the idea that the magistrate has not the right to exceed his commission which is limited in defending, repeling and punishing injuries always to the benefit and security that society requires. But when the magistrate differed and finds no common judge between them, we must have recourse to heaven. Trenchard saw that it is a very difficult case to deal with and brought examples related to the case in question such as that of the senate and the people of Rome. [...]

[...] He also proposed the idea of rotation of government in a Republic via equal election voted by a secret ballot, but he did not favour popular upheavals just as Neville. Even the idea of check and balance was his. All the ideas of Harrington were reaffected by Neville and Sydney, his two colleagues. Though they spoke in terms of ancient or gothic constitution, it was just a tactic from them to smuggle some Harringtonian ideas. Despite Montesquieu's belief in the principles of a democracy, he did not feel that all people were equal. [...]

[...] The exclusive right to invention given not of natural right, but for the benefit of society.” Thus, it is natural to work and find out means to afford ones needs and comfort and to aspire for prosperity. For Trenchard, employment brings population, whereas unemployment triggers out violence and that is the reason of immigration. So if a state encourages its subjects and finds them more work with greater rewards, the state in question will prosper, security will expand, people will come in and the human condition will get better. [...]

[...] If Trenchard and Gordon said that husbandry brings about slavery and poverty, Thomas Jefferson, later on, thought it so important and virtuous. For them, Happiness is when mankind is free from hunger and cold. In these conditions, the desire of plenty and conveniency, the love of power and the love of fortune succeed easily. All these under proper regulations contribute to the Happiness, the wealth and the security of societies. This idea triggers out the enlightenment's goal which is the happiness of society. [...]

[...] Trenchard was convinced that all men are born free; this is what John Locke calls state of perfect freedom”[3]. Locke argued that people are born with certain “natural” or “inalienable” rights. These include the right to life, liberty and property. Government did not give people these rights, rather they are born with them and as much, no government can take them away. Locke's ideas became very influential in developping Democratic ideas. It is not surprising hencefore if Thomas Jefferson, in writing the declaration of independence, drew heavily from John Locke's writings. [...]