The conduct of civilised men is bound to conform to laws, but the laws must first conform to general human practice.

They merely give precision to conduct which has a deeper origin than legislation.

Laws, in fact, may be compared to soldiers' uniforms.
These, within certain limits, may be varied indefinitely by a war-office; but they all must be such as will adapt themselves to the human body and its movements.

The will of a government may prescribe that the trousers shall be tight or loose, that they shall be black or brown or bright green or vermilion.

But no government can prescribe that they shall be only three inches round the waist, or that the soldier's sleeves shall start, not from the shoulders, but from the pockets of the coat-tails.