cts differ according
to different societies; but all these effects converge, paralyzing in
the nation the best half of the soul, and, worse still, to leading
the will astray and perverting the public mind, transforming generous
impulses into evil outbursts, and organizing lasting inertia, ennui,
discontent, discord, feebleness, and sterility.[4102]

II. Local Community.

Local societies.--Their principal and distinctive
character.--Their type on a small scale.--A dwelling-house
in Annecy or Grenoble.--Compulsory association of its
inmates.--Its object and limits.--Private in character.

Let us first consider local society whether a province, a department,
or a county. For the past ten years (1789-99), the legislator has
unceasingly deformed and assaulted. On his side, he refuses to open his
eyes; preoccupied with theories, he will not recognize it for what it is
in reality, a society of a distinct species, different from the
State, with its own peculiar aims, its limits marked out, its members
prescribed, its statutes drawn up, everything formed and defined
beforehand. As it is local, it is founded on the greater or less
proximity of its habitations. Thus, to comprehend it, we must take a
case in which this proximity is greatest that of certain houses in some
of our southeastern towns, as, for example, Grenoble and Annecy. Here,
a house often belongs to several distinct owners, each possessing his
story, or apartment on a story, one owning the cellar and another the
attic, each enjoying all the rights of property over his portion, the
right of renting it, selling it, bequeathing it, and mortgaging it, but
all holding it in common for the maintenance of the roof and the main
walls.--Evidently, their association is not a free one; willingly or
not, each forms a member of it, for, willingly or not, each benefits
or suffers through the good or bad state of the roof and the principal
walls: therefore, all must furnish their quota of the indispensable
expenses; even a majority of votes would not rid them of these; one
claimant alone would suffice to hold them responsible; they have no
right to impose on him the danger which they accept for themselves, nor
to shirk expenses by which they profit as well as himself. Consequently,
on the report of an expert, the magistrate interferes, and, willingly or
not, the repairs are made; then, willingly or not, both by custom and in
law, each pays his quote, c