instructive to observe the intense language with which the necessity
of a central paramount sovereignty for all the Provinces, and the
inconveniences of the separate States' right principle were urged by a
deputation, at the head of which stood Olden-Barneveld. "Although it is
not becoming in us," said they, "to enquire into your Majesty's motives
for refusing the sovereignty of our country, nevertheless, we cannot help
observing that your consent would be most profitable, as well to your
Majesty, and your successors, as to the Provinces themselves. By your
acceptance of the sovereignty the two peoples would be, as it were,
united in one body. This would cause a fraternal benevolence between
them, and a single reverence, love, and obedience to your Majesty.--The
two peoples being thus under the government of the same sovereign prince,
the intrigues and practices which the enemy could attempt with persons
under a separate subjection, would of necessity surcease. Moreover,
those Provinces are all distinct duchies, counties, seignories, governed
by their own magistrates, laws, and ordinances; each by itself, without
any authority or command to be exercised by one Province over another.
To this end they have need of a supreme power and of one sovereign prince
or seignor, who may command all equally, having a constant regard to the
public weal--considered as a generality, and not with regard to the
profit of the one or the other individual Province--and, causing promptly
and universally to be executed such ordinances as may be made in the
matter of war or police, according to various emergencies. Each
Province, on the contrary, retaining its sovereignty over its own
inhabitants, obedience will not be so promptly and completely rendered
to the commands of the lieutenant-general of your Majesty, and many,
a good enterprise and opportunity, will be lost. Where there is not a
single authority it is always found that one party endeavours to usurp
power over another, or to escape doing his duty so thoroughly as the
others. And this has notoriously been the case in the matter of