Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 18.pdf/636

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THE JURISPRUDENCE OF LAWLESSNESS human affairs. We cannot do better than close this paper by quoting what that emi nent publicist, De Tocqueville, says of them:

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future of his fellow-creatures. When the legislator has once regulated the law of inheritance he can rest from his labors. The machine, once put in motion, will go "It is true these laws belong to civil on for ages and advance, as if self-guided, affairs, but they ought nevertheless to be towards a point indicated beforehand. placed at the head of all political institu When framed in a particular manner, this tions, for they exercise an incredible influ law unites, draws together and vests prop ence upon the social state of a people whilst erty and power in a few hands; it causes an political laws only show what the state aristocracy to spring, so to speak, out of the already is. They have, moreover, a sure ground. If formed on opposite principles, and uniform manner of operating upon soci its action is still more rapid; it divides, dis ety, affecting, as it were, generations yet tributes, and disperses both property and unborn. Through their means man ac power." quires a kind of supernatural power over the BATON ROUGE, LA., August, 1006.