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History of the State of New York, Vol. I (1609-1691)

Brodhead, John Romeyn. History of the State of New York, Vol. I (1609-1691). New York: Harper & Brothers, 1853. 263 words

shall remain in shame and disgrace ; if the contrary be established, to wit, that it was urged forward through his own fancy, let us then once see what the law of nations thinks of it; for in the exacting of punishment, this law must first of alt be observed, so that no war be ever again undertaken, unless men are stronger than the opposite party. For not only doth prudence, or the love of one's own, but even frequently those also who administer justice, demand that people abstain from a hazardous war, as, from the nature of government, the sovereign is

bound by justice to care for the subject, no less than the subject to obey; so that even a King, who undertakes a war for a trifling cause, or to exact unnecessary punishment, which is very hazardous, is bound to indemnify the subject for all damage incurred thereby having, ;

by that means, done him wrong and, for insufficient cause, brought down on him such serious difficulties. For this reason Linius says -- " That is a just war, which is a necessary one." James, King of Great Britain, in his lifetime admitted this; and Propertius says " A soldier -- must bear arms in order thereby to control arms." Moreover, even just cause, does not oblige rulers to undertake war for their subjects, except it can be done without damage to all, or the majority of them. For the office of governor extends rather over the whole, than over a part ; and where a part is greater, there it