Itwouldhaveseveraluses——oneofthemrelevanttothetruthabovepointedout。Suchapresentationwouldmakeclearhowthatidentityofgovernmentalethicswithmilitaryethicswhichnecessarilyexistsduringprimitivetimes，whenthearmyissimplythemobilizedsocietyandthesocietyisthequiescentarmy，continuesthroughlongstages，andevennowaffectsingreatdegreesourlaw—proceedingsandourdailylives。Having，forinstance，shownthatinnumeroussavagetribesthejudicialfunctionofthechiefdoesnotexist，orisnominal，andthatverygenerallyduringearlystagesofEuropeancivilization，eachmanhadtodefendhimselfandrectifyhisprivatewrongsasbesthemight——havingshownthatinmedievaltimestherightofprivatewaramongmembersofthemilitaryorderwasbroughttoanend，notbecausetheheadrulerthoughtithisdutytoarbitrate，butbecauseprivatewarsinterferedwiththeefficiencyofhisarmyinpublicwarshavingshownthattheadministrationofjusticedisplayedthroughsubsequentagesalargeamountofitsprimitivenature，intrialbybattlecarriedonbeforethekingorhisdeputyasumpire，andwhich，amongourselves，continuednominallytobeanalternativeformoftrialdownto1819;itmightthenbepointedoutthatevennowtheresurvivestrialbybattleunderanotherform：counselbeingthechampionsandpursestheweapons。Incivilcases，therulingagencycaresscarcelymorethanofoldaboutrectifyingthewrongsoftheinjured;but，practically，itsdeputydoeslittleelsethantoenforcetherulesofthefight：theresultbeinglessaquestionofequitythanaquestionofpecuniaryabilityandforensicskill。Nay，solittleconcernfortheadministrationofjusticeisshownbytherulingagency，thatwhen，bylegalconflictcarriedoninthepresenceofitsdeputy，thecombatantshavebeenpecuniarilybledeventotheextentofproducingprostration，andwhenanappealbeingmadebyoneofthemthedecisionisreversed，thebeatencombatantismadetopayfortheblundersofthedeputy，orofaprecedingdeputy;andnotunfrequentlythewrongedman，whosoughtprotectionorrestitution，istakenoutofcourtpecuniarilydead。
Adequatelydone，suchaportrayalofgovernmentalmisdeedsofcommissionandomission，provingthatthepartially—survivingcodeofethicsarisingin，andproperto，astateofwar，stillvitiatesgovernmentalaction，mightgreatlymoderatethehopesofthosewhoareanxioustoextendgovernmentalcontrol。Afterobservingthatalongwiththestill—manifesttraitsofthatprimitivepoliticalstructurewhichchronicmilitancyproduces，theregoesastill—manifestsurvivalofitsprimitiveprinciples;
thereformerandthephilanthropistmightbelesssanguineintheiranticipationsofgoodfromitsall—pervadingagency，andmightbemoreinclinedtotrustagenciesofanon—governmentalkind。
Butleavingoutthegreaterpartofthelargetopiccomprehendedunderthetitleofthisarticle，Iproposeheretodealonlywithacomparativelysmallremainingpart——thosesinsoflegislatorswhicharenotgeneratedbytheirpersonalambitionsorclassinterests，butresultfromalackofthestudybywhichtheyaremorallyboundtopreparethemselves。
Adruggist’sassistantwho，afterlisteningtothedescriptionofpainswhichhemistakesforthoseofcolic，butwhicharereallycausedbyinflammationofthececum，prescribesasharppurgativeandkillsthepatient，isfoundguiltyofmanslaughter。Heisnotallowedtoexcusehimselfonthegroundthathedidnotintendharmbuthopedforgood。Thepleathathesimplymadeamistakeinhisdiagnosisisnotentertained。Heistoldthathehadnorighttoriskdisastrousconsequencesbymeddlinginamatterconcerningwhichhisknowledgewassoinadequate。Thefactthathewasignoranthowgreatwashisignoranceisnotacceptedinbarofjudgment。Itistacitlyassumedthattheexperiencecommontoallshouldhavetaughthimthateventheskilled，andmuchmoretheunskilled，makemistakesintheidentificationofdisordersandintheappropriatetreatment;andthathavingdisregardedthewarningderivablefromcommonexperience，hewasanswerablefortheconsequences。