So far as we can see into
and understand the relation, it would appear as if it were
impossible for men to commit wrongs and crimes of a wholly useless
form of wickedness, and yet the idea of such extreme perversity cannot
be overlooked in a system of moral philosophy.
There is thus a feeling of horror at the thought of the formal
execution of a monarch by his people. And the reason it is that,
whereas an act of assassination must be considered as only an
exception from the rule which has been constituted a maxim, such an
execution must be regarded as a complete perversion of the
principles that should regulate the relation between a sovereign and
his people. For it makes the people, who owe their constitutional
existence to the legislation that issued from the sovereign, to be the
ruler over him. Hence mere violence is thus elevated with bold brow,
and as it were by principle, above the holiest right; and, appearing
like an abyss to swallow up everything without recall, it seems like
suicide committed by the state upon itself and a crime that is capable
of no atonement. There is therefore reason to assume that the
consent that is accorded to such executions is not really based upon a
supposed principle of right, but only springs from fear of the
vengeance that would be taken upon the people were the same power to
revive again in the state.
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