The illustrious Hugo Grotius Of the law of warre and peace with annotations, III parts, and memorials of the author's life and death.

XXIV. Of passage for Merchandise, and of Impost.

NOr is passage onely due to persons, but to Merchandise also; for no man hath right to obstruct the way of Com∣merce to any Nation with any other that is remote; because the permission of Trade is for the interest of human society, and is not discommodious to any one. For, al∣though some hoped gain, but not due, departs from any, that is not to be re∣puted as a loss. Philo * 1.1 speaks to our purpose: On the Sea, all Ships of burden safely pass, according to that right of Commerce † 1.2, which is between all Nations

arising from the desire of natural society; while they supply one another mutually, with that, which the one wanteth, and the other can spare. For envy hath never in∣vaded either the whole world, or the great parts thereof. Another testimony we have from Plutarch, speaking thus of the Sea: This element hath made our life sociable and perfect, that would otherwise be wild and without correspondence; it supplies our wants with mutuall aide, and by exchange of things needful procures fellowship and friendship. Wherewith agrees that of Li∣banius: God hath not granted all things to every land, but hath distributed his gifts to several Countrys, that men having need of one another might maintain society for their common good. Therefore hath he made the Merchant, to convey to all, what any place affords. Euripides * 1.3 also brings in Theseus, accounting Navigation among the Inventions, which human reason hath found out for the general benefit, thus:

What nature any land deny'd, By Navigation is supply'd.

But it is a question, whether Tribute may be imposd, by him that rules the Land, upon merchandise passing by Land, or by river, or by part of the Sea, which may be calld an accession of the Land. Certainly, whatsoever burdens have no relation to the merchandise, no equity suffers such to be imposed on the same. Neither can Head-money, put on the in∣habitants to sustein the charge of the Commonwealth, be exacted of passengers. Nevertheless, if either to secure the goods, or if, among other reasons, for this also, the publick be charged, some Taxe, by way of compensation, may be layd upon the Commodities, so that the measure of the cause be not exceeded. For upon this depends the justness of Tributes & Toll * 1.4. So, Strabo * 1.5 relates, that the Corinthians even from the most antient times, recei∣ved Tribute † 1.6 of the Commodities, which to avoid the compassing of Malea, were carried by land from Sea to Sea. So, the Romans received a price for the passage of the Rhene * 1.7: and the Lawyers † 1.8 books are ful of the like. But oft-times an equal measure is not kept; whereof the Arabi∣an Phylarchs are accus'd by † 1.9 Strabo, ad∣ding, It is a hard matter, amongst power∣ful and fieroe people, to compound upon termes not grievous to the Merchant.

Notes

• * 1.1

  In legat. ad Caium.
• † 1.2

  Apud F•…•…orum est. l. 3. Subla∣tis Comm•…•… cus, ruoto foedere ge∣neris hamani. Servius ad Geotgic. 1. signisicat neces∣sitate q•…•…aeren∣darum rerum homines navi∣gandi peritiam ac studium repe∣risse. commune bonum erat pa∣tere Commercium maris. Ambrosius in opere de Creatione: Bonum mare tanquam hospitium fluviorum, invectio Commeatuum, quo sibi diftantes populi copulantur; quae ex Basilio sumta Hexemeri 4. Ma∣re forum mundi, insulas stationes in mari, eleganter dixit de Provid. 2. Theodoret. Adjungam his Chrysostomi ad Stebechi∣um verba: Quomodo autem satis digne quis explicet facilitatem ad mutua commercia nobis datam? Ne enim itineris longitudo impedi•…•…∣tum aliorum ad alios commeatibus adferret, breviorem viam, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 scilicet, ubi{que} terrarum disposuit Deus, ut mundum tanquam 〈◊〉〈◊〉 domum communiter inhabitantes, crebro nos invicem viserimus; & a∣pud se nata quis{que} alteri Communicans vicissita, commode accipere•…•… apud illum abundantes; ac sic exiguam tenens terrae partem, ita tanqu•…•… si teneret universam, frueretur ejus quae ubivis sunt bonis. Licet it•…•… nunc, tanquam in communi mensa convivarum, unicui{que} ea quae sibi apposita dare alteri longius accumbenti, ac contra quae apud ipsum s•…•… accipere manu tantum extenta.
• * 1.3

  Supplicib.
• * 1.4

  Vide legem Longobardicam tit. 31. c. 33. & epistolam Episcoporum ad Ludovicum Re∣gem quae inter capitula legitur Caroli Calvi, c. 14.
• * 1.5

  Libro octavo.
• † 1.6

  De thure Plinius, 12. 14. Ev••hi non po∣test, nisi per Ge∣banitas: ita{que} & horum regi penditur vect••••gal.
• * 1.7

  Etiam in pon∣tibus pro tranfi∣tu datur, inquit Seneca.
• † 1.8

  Pereg. l. 1. de jure Fisci cap. 1. num. 22. Aug. cons. 199. Zabar. cons. 38.
• † 1.9

  Lib. 16.