Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

THE FORUM.
Extract from a miscellany in the Aurora, under this title.
The notion of an original contract was the theory of the friends of liberty, in every part of Europe, in 1688. The Spaniards had asserted it in the beginning of their contest with Charles V. The only debate in the British house of Lords, on that occasion, was between those who asserted the original contract, and those who maintained the divine right of kings. The question, in short, was, whether or not the kings derived their authority from the people. it was decided that they did and the next resolution was in substance, James had abused that authority.
Lord John Russell.
Many definitions have been given of liberty; but there are two that deserve consideration. The Roman lawyers say, liberty is the power of doing that which is not forbidden by the laws. The other is, that liberty is the power of doing all that we ought to be allowed to do. The first includes too little; the latter too much; for in the latter case, a despotism, established by law, and which is in no case so intense as when it works by law, is a government of liberty.
Lord John Russell.
Liberty may be comprehended under three heads—civil, personal, and political liberty:
Civil liberty is the power of doing that only which is not forbidden by the laws; which comprehends security of person and property.
Personal liberty is the power of doing that which is harmless to others, as speaking, or writing; eligibility to office also.
Political liberty is the acknowledged right of the people to control their government or to partake in it.
Lord John Russell.
The liberty of nations are from God and nature, not from kings
Algernon Sidney.