The sacred fire of liberty : republicanism, liberalism, and the law

## To Peter Hoadley Sellers primo optimo exemplo virtutis [T] he preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American People. Front Matter....Pages i-xii Introduction....Pages 1-3 Front Matter....Pages 5-5 Roman Liberty....Pages 7-11 Italian Liberty....Pages 12-16 English Liberty....Pages 17-22 American Liberty....Pages 23-27 French Liberty....Pages 28-37 Republican Liberty....Pages 38-40 Front Matter....Pages 41-41 Cicero’s Conception of Liberty....Pages 43-46 Machiavelli’s Conception of Liberty....Pages 47-50 Harrington’s Conception of Liberty....Pages 51-54 Sidney’s Conception of Liberty....Pages 55-60 Montesquieu’s Conception of Liberty....Pages 61-63 Rousseau’s Conception of Liberty....Pages 64-66 Adams’ Conception of Liberty....Pages 67-69 Madison’s Conception of Liberty....Pages 70-72 The Concept of Republican Liberty....Pages 73-77 Front Matter....Pages 79-79 New Conceptions of Liberty....Pages 81-82 The Liberty of Thomas Hobbes....Pages 83-86 The Liberty of Edward Coke....Pages 87-88 The Liberty of John Locke....Pages 89-90 Front Matter....Pages 79-79 The Liberty of William Blackstone....Pages 91-93 Liberties and License....Pages 94-96 Front Matter....Pages 97-97 Republicanism....Pages 99-100 Liberalism....Pages 101-102 Liberty....Pages 103-103 Rights....Pages 104-104 Negative Liberty....Pages 105-106 Positive Liberty....Pages 107-108 Natural Law....Pages 109-109 Positive Law....Pages 110-111 Political Liberalism....Pages 112-114 Public Reason....Pages 115-116 The Republican Revival....Pages 117-119 Republicanism, Liberalism, and the Law....Pages 120-123 Front Matter....Pages 125-125 The Sacred Fire of Liberty....Pages 127-130 Back Matter....Pages 131-201 When George Washington gave his inaugural speech as first President of the United States under the new federal constitution, he asserted that the "preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government" were "deeply" and perhaps "finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American People." This book identifies the nature and origins of the "sacred fire" which Washington sought to protect. M.N.S. Sellers' The Sacred Fire of Liberty places the concept of "liberty" into the context of its political origins, and explains the structures and vocabulary of liberty that still dominate contemporary legal and political debate. Contrary to the common opposition of liberal and republican traditions as rival conceptions of political legitimacy, Sellers demonstrates the close links between the two, their common roots in developing Western conceptions of liberty, and their eventual divergence over structures of government following the French revolution. Clarifying our often muddled notions about liberty, The Sacred Fire of Liberty reestablishes the original republican principle that there can be no justice without citizenship, no liberty without law This book describes the origins of the concept of liberty in the legal and political thought of Rome, Italy, England, France and the United States of America. Professor Sellers traces the development of liberty and republican government over two centuries of European history, in association with liberal ideas. This study reveals republicanism as the parent of liberalism in modern law and politics, and demonstrates the continuing value of republican ideas in securing the liberty of contemporary states and their citizens.