The freedom of the seas : $b or, The right which belongs to the Dutch to take part in the East Indian tradeGrotius, Hugo
Philosophy
The freedom of the seas : $b or, The right which belongs to the Dutch to take part in the East Indian trade
Grotius, Hugo
Freedom of the seas; Law of the sea
my house, such prohibition is a usurpation of right,[130] allowed,
it is true, by custom, but based on no law, and that an action for
damages could not be denied the person thus prohibited from fishing.
† [Franciscus (?) Accursius (?-1259) (a pupil of the famous Monarcha
juris Azzo), with whose name the Glossa Magna is almost synonymous.
He was called Advocatorum Idolum.]
He therefore condemns this practice, and calls it a usurpation;
of the Christian jurists Ambrose[131] does likewise, and both are
right. For what is clearer than that custom is not valid when it
is diametrically opposed to the law of nature or of nations?[132]
Indeed, custom is a sort of affirmative right, which cannot
invalidate general or universal law. And it is a universal law that
the sea and its use is common to all. Moreover what we have said
about prescription applies with equal truth and force to custom; and
if any one should investigate the opinions of those who have differed
upon this matter, he would find no other opinion but that custom is
established by privilege. No one has the power to confer a privilege
which is prejudicial to the rights of the human race; wherefore such
a custom has no force as between different states.
This entire question however has been most thoroughly treated by
Vasquez,[133] that glory of Spain, who leaves nothing ever to be
desired when it comes to subtle examination of the law or to the
exposition of the principles of liberty. He lays down this thesis:
‘Places public and common to all by the law of nations cannot
become objects of prescription’. This thesis he supports by many
authorities, and then he subjoins the objections fabricated by Angeli
and others, which we have enumerated above. But before examining
these objections he makes the just and reasonable statement that the
truth of all these matters depends upon a true conception both of the
law of nature and the law of nations.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
divina veniat providentia, esse immutabile. Huius autem iuris
naturalis partem esse ius gentium, primaevum quod dicitur, diversum
a iure gentium secundario sive positivo, quorum posterius mutari
potest. Nam si qui mores cum iure gentium primaevo repugnent, hi non
humani sunt ipso iudice, sed FERINI, corruptelae et abusus, non leges
et usus. Itaque nullo tempore praescribi potuerunt, nulla lata lege
iustificari, nullo multarum etiam gentium consensu, hospitio, et
exercitatione stabiliri, quod exemplis aliquot et Alphonsi Castrensis
Theologi Hispani testimonio confirmat.[134a]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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