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Show 68 ON THE SLAVERY AND CoMMERCE It appears, thirdly, that the grand object of the contra8, is the happinefs of the people; becaufe they gave the fupremacy to him alone, who had been confpicuous for the fplendour of his abilities, or the integrity of his life : that the power of the multitude being direCted by the wifdom and jtJ!ice of the prince, they might experience the moll: effeCtual proteCtion from injury, the highell: advantages of focicty, the greatell: poffible happinefs. C H A P. IV. Having now colleCted the materials that are neceff.~ry for the profecution of our defign, we ihall immediately enter upon the difc uffion. If any man had originally been endued with power, as with other faculties, fo that the rell: of mankind had difcovered in themfelves an innate net'ij)ity of obeying this particular perfon; it is evident that he and his defcendants, from the fuperiority of their nature, would have had a claim upon men for obedience, and a natural right to command: but as the right to empire is ad' Uentitious; as all were originally free; as nature oF THE HuMAN SPECIES. 6g nature made every man's body and mind his o"vn; it is evident that no jull: man can be configncd tojlavery, without h·~ own Cof!fent. Neither can men, by the fame principles, be confidered as lands, goods, or houfes, among poj}Jjions. It is necelfary that all property ihould be inferiour to its pq!Jiflor. But how does the jlave differ from his majler, but by chance? For though the mark, with which the latter is pleafed to brand him, ihews, at the Jirll: fight, the difference of their fot·tune; what mark can be found in his nature, that can warrant a diftinCl: ion? To this confideration we lhall add the following, that if men can jull:Iy become the property of each other, their children, like the offspring of cattle, mull: inherit their paterna/lot. Now, as the aCtions of the father and the child mull: be thus at the fole difpofal of their common mall:er, it is evident, that the authority of the one, as a parmt, and the duty of the other, as a child, mull: be inll:antly annihilated; rights and obligations, which, as they are founded in 11ature, are implanted in our feelings, ape\ E 3 aro |