Johannes Althusius: Politica - Hubertlerch.com - HubertLerch.com

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community ( universitas) cannot ordinarily grant immunity from taxes except in general council. Such a privilege is either
personal or real. [§ 3] A personal privilege inolves only the person to whom it is granted, and does not extend beyond his
person and property to his servants, family, and so forth. [§ 4] A real privilege, on the contrary, embraces heirs, children, wife,
and other related persons. … [§ 13] It is to be observed that in cases of great and extreme necessity confronting the
commonwealth all immunities and privileges cease and are annulled. For the private and special benefit and good of the citizen
should not be preferred to the public utility and necessity of the commonwealth. … [§ 14] Also pertaining to this right is the
conferring of titles and privileges of nobility upon certain persons, such as the titles of dukes, princes, counts, and barons. These
persons can be deprived of their privileges and rights and divested of their titles.
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XVI
[§ 1] WE HAVE THUS FAR SPOKEN of the first part of special right of sovereignty, namely, the right established to procure the
material necessities of life. We turn now to the second part, which pertains to the protection of the universal association and
symbiosis. By this right everything necessary for avoiding or removing all difficulties, impediments, and obstacles to the
universal association, and for avoiding any troubles, dangers, evils, and injuries to any distressed or needy member of the
universal association, is offered with mutual feeling and concern by each and all members thereof. This second and latter right,
therefore, is principally concerned with the arrangement established for protection and defense.
[§ 2] This right of protection consists in (1) aid and (2) counsel. Aid is the assistance and prompt support provided by the
communication of things and services to a distressed and needy member of this universal association. It consists, first, in defense
and, then, in the care of goods belonging to the universal association. …
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[§ 4] Defense is threefold. It is the safeguarding of the associated individual members when one of them—a province, city,
village, or town—suffers violence and injury, or requires the commonwealth’s support for its basic interests and needs. It is,
furthermore, the guaranty of free passage and public security against those who disturb, plunder, or restrict commercial activity
in the territory of the associated body. It is, finally, the conduct of war. … [§ 17] Just cause for waging war occurs when all
other remedies have first been exhausted and peace or justice cannot otherwise be obtained. There are seven just causes for
declaring and waging war. The first cause is the recovery of things taken away through violence by another people. The second
cause is the defense against violence inflicted by another, and the repulsion of it. The third cause is the necessity for preserving
liberty, privileges, rights, peace, and tranquillity, and for defending true religion. The fourth cause occurs when a foreign people
deny peaceful transit through its province without good reason. The fifth cause occurs when subjects rise up against their prince
and lord, do not fulfill their pledged word, and are not willing to obey him, although they have been admonished many times.
The sixth reason is contumacy, which occurs when any prince, lord, or city has so contemptuously and repeatedly scorned the
decisions of courts that justice cannot otherwise be administered and defended. The seventh just cause of war occurs when
agreements are not implemented by the other party, when he does not keep his promises, and when tyranny is practiced upon
subjects. …
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XVII
[§ 2] THE CARE OF GOODS of the commonwealth or associated body is twofold. First, it is the diligent and faithful conservation of
those things necessary and useful to the commonwealth. Secondly, it is their augmentation and extension. This conservation is
either of movable or immovable goods of the commonwealth. [§ 3] The care and management of movable goods centers in the
treasury and other buildings. Monies are managed in the treasury; other goods, namely armaments, grain reserves, and
documents and chronicles are provided for in other buildings. …
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[§ 14] The care and inspection of immovable goods
belonging to the realm are committed to designated curators by the will and agreement of the universal association. … [§
15] Such goods are navigable rivers of the realm, harbors, public roads, public pastures, and so forth. …
[§ 24] The augmentation and extension of the goods of the associated body is accomplished through confederation or
association with others, or through other legitimate means and titles. [§ 25] In such a confederation other realms, provinces,
cities, villages, or towns are received into and associated with the communion and society of the one body. By their admission,
the body of the universal association is extended, and made stronger and more secure. This cannot be done, however, without
the consent and authority of the body and its administrators. … [§ 26] Such confederation with a foreign people or another body
is either complete or partial. [§ 27] A complete confederation is one in which a foreign realm, province, or any other universal
association, together with its inhabitants, are fully and integrally coopted and admitted into the right and communion of the
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