Still this was the logical and inevitable result of State rights pushed to the extreme and indeed had been the indisputable theory and practice in the Netherlands ever since their revolt from Spain.

To pretend that the proceedings and the oath were new because they were embarrassing was absurd.

It was only because the dominant party saw the extreme inconvenience of the system, now that it was turned against itself, that individuals contemptuous of law and ignorant of history denounced it as a novelty.
But the strong and beneficent principle that lay at the bottom of the Advocate's conduct was his unflagging resolve to maintain the civil authority over the military in time of peace.

What liberal or healthy government would be possible otherwise?
Exactly as he opposed the subjection of the magistracy by the priesthood or the mob, so he now defended it against the power of the sword.

There was no justification whatever for a claim on the part of Maurice to exact obedience from all the armies of the Republic, especially in time of peace.