14 Die formale Politik oder Verfassungslehre.
assent. ...... To do justice to the minisstry, they ha ve not yet pre—
bended, that any one or any two of the three estates have
power to make s new law without theconcurrenoe of the
third; they KDowthata man whomaintainssucha doctrine
is liable by statute to the heaviest pensalties,«
Letter XIX. »The deéarest interests of this country are its laws and
its constitution. Against every attack upon these, there will, J hope, be
always found among us the firmest spirit of resistance.«
Letter XXX. »The political freedom of the Enslish
GConstitution was once the pride and honour of an Englisbhman,
the civil equality of the laws preserved the propertyand
defended the safety of the s Ubject. Are these glorious privileges
 the birthright of the people or are we only tenants at
ihe will of the ministry? But that i Know, there is a spirit of
resistance in the hearts omy countrymen, that they value
life notbby its conveniences, but pythe independenee and
dignity of their condition.«
Letter XLIV. Hier entwickelt Junius das Princip der Nothwendigkeit
unter veränderten Verhältnissen die politischen For men zu modificiren, um
den Geist derselben zu erhalten. »At present i hold it to he essentially
necessary to the preservationof the cdonstitution that the privileges
 of Parliament should be strictly ascertained and confined within
he narrowest bounds the nature of their institution will admit of.
Upon the same principle on which i would have resisted prerogative in
the last century, i now resist privilege. — — We trusted our representatives
 with priviloges for their own defence and ours. We cannot hinder
heir desertion, hut we can prevent their carrying over their arms to the
service of the enemy. — — Human affairs are in no instance governed
Dy strict positive right. If change of circumstances were to have no
weight in directing our conduct and opinions, the mutual intercourse of
mankind would be nothing more than a contention between positive and
equitable right. Society would he a state of war and law itself wonld
he injustice.«
In dem geschichtlichen Theil des englischen Verfassungs- und
Verwaltungsrechts zeigt Gneist, wie die Verfassung während einer
Reihe von Jahrhunderten nur Schritt für Schritt durch Ausübung des Noth⸗
rechts und nach den jeweiligen Bedürfnissen beinahe unbewußt aus einer abso⸗
uten Monarchie zur freiesten Staatsform umgestaltet wurde.