Neitherisittruethatafreemancansellhimself。Saleimpliesaprice；nowwhenapersonsellshimself，hiswholesubstanceimmediatelydevolvestohismaster；themaster，therefore，inthatcase，givesnothing，andtheslavereceivesnothing。Youwillsayhehasapeculium。
Butthispeculiumgoesalongwithhisperson。Ifitisnotlawfulforamantokillhimselfbecauseherobshiscountryofhisperson，forthesamereasonheisnotallowedtobarterhisfreedom。Thefreedomofeverycitizenconstitutesapartofthepublicliberty，andinademocraticstateisevenapartofthesovereignty。Tosellone’sfreedom[3]issorepugnanttoallreasonascanscarcelybesupposedinanyman。Iflibertymayberatedwithrespecttothebuyer，itisbeyondallpricetotheseller。Thecivillaw，whichauthorisesadivisionofgoodsamongmen，cannotbethoughttorankamongsuchgoodsapartofthemenwhoweretomakethisdivision。Thesamelawannulsalliniquitouscontracts；surelythenitaffordsredressinacontractwherethegrievanceismostenormous。
Thethirdwayisbirth，whichfallswiththetwoformer；forifamancouldnotsellhimself，muchlesscouldhesellanunborninfant。Ifaprisonerofwarisnottobereducedtoslavery，muchlessarehischildren。
Thelawfulnessofputtingamalefactortodeatharisesfromthiscircumstance：thelawbywhichheispunishedwasmadeforhissecurity。
Amurderer，forinstance，hasenjoyedthebenefitoftheverylawwhichcondemnshim；ithasbeenacontinualprotectiontohim；hecannot，therefore，objecttoit。Butitisnotsowiththeslave。Thelawofslaverycanneverbebeneficialtohim；itisinallcasesagainsthim，withouteverbeingforhisadvantage；andthereforethislawiscontrarytothefundamentalprincipleofallsocieties。
Ifitbepretendedthatithasbeenbeneficialtohim，ashismasterhasprovidedforhissubsistence，slavery，atthisrate，shouldbelimitedtothosewhoareincapableofearningtheirlivelihood。Butwhowilltakeupwithsuchslaves？Astoinfants，nature，whohassuppliedtheirmotherswithmilk，hadprovidedfortheirsustenance；andtheremainderoftheirchildhoodapproachessoneartheageinwhichtheyaremostcapableofbeingofservicethathewhosupportsthemcannotbesaidtogivethemanequivalentwhichcanentitlehimtobetheirmaster。
Norisslaverylessopposedtothecivillawthantothatofnature。
Whatcivillawcanrestrainaslavefromrunningaway，sinceheisnotamemberofsociety，andconsequentlyhasnointerestinanycivilinstitutions？Hecanberetainedonlybyafamilylaw，thatis，bythemaster’sauthority。
3。AnotherOriginoftheRightofSlavery。Iwouldassoonsaythattherightofslaveryproceedsfromthecontemptofonenationforanother，foundedonadifferenceincustoms。
LopezdeGama[4]relatesthattheSpaniardsfoundnearSt。Marthaseveralbasketsfulofcrabs，snails，grasshoppers，andlocusts，whichprovedtobetheordinaryprovisionofthenatives。Thistheconquerorsturnedtoaheavychargeagainsttheconquered。Theauthorownsthatthis，withtheirsmokingandtrimmingtheirbeardsinadifferentmanner，gaverisetothelawbywhichtheAmericansbecameslavestotheSpaniards。
Knowledgehumanisesmankind，andreasoninclinestomildness；butprejudiceseradicateeverytenderdisposition。
4。AnotherOriginoftheRightofSlavery。Iwouldassoonsaythatreligiongivesitsprofessorsarighttoenslavethosewhodissentfromit，inordertorenderitspropagationmoreeasy。
ThiswasthenotionthatencouragedtheravagersofAmericaintheiriniquity。[5]Undertheinfluenceofthisideatheyfoundedtheirrightofenslavingsomanynations；fortheserobbers，whowouldabsolutelybebothrobbersandChristians，weresuperlativelydevout。
LouisXII[6]wasextremelyuneasyatalawbywhichallthenegroesofhiscoloniesweretobemadeslaves；butitbeingstronglyurgedtohimasthereadiestmeansfortheirconversion，heacquiescedwithoutfurtherscruple。
5。OftheSlaveryoftheNegroes。WereItovindicateourrighttomakeslavesofthenegroes，theseshouldbemyarguments：
TheEuropeans，havingextirpatedtheAmericans，wereobligedtomakeslavesoftheAfricans，forclearingsuchvasttractsofland。
Sugarwouldbetoodeariftheplantswhichproduceitwerecultivatedbyanyotherthanslaves。
Thesecreaturesarealloverblack，andwithsuchaflatnosethattheycanscarcelybepitied。
ItishardlytobebelievedthatGod，whoisawiseBeing，shouldplaceasoul，especiallyagoodsoul，insuchablackuglybody。
Itissonaturaltolookuponcolourasthecriterionofhumannature，thattheAsiatics，amongwhomeunuchsareemployed，alwaysdeprivetheblacksoftheirresemblancetousbyamoreopprobriousdistinction。
Thecolouroftheskinmaybedeterminedbythatofthehair，which，amongtheEgyptians，thebestphilosophersintheworld，wasofsuchimportancethattheyputtodeathallthered—hairedmenwhofellintotheirhands。
Thenegroespreferaglassnecklacetothatgoldwhichpolitenationssohighlyvalue。Cantherebeagreaterproofoftheirwantingcommonsense？
Itisimpossibleforustosupposethesecreaturestobemen，because，allowingthemtobemen，asuspicionwouldfollowthatweourselvesarenotChristians。
WeakmindsexaggeratetoomuchthewrongdonetotheAfricans。Forwerethecaseastheystateit，wouldtheEuropeanpowers，whomakesomanyneedlessconventionsamongthemselves，havefailedtoenterintoageneralone，inbehalfofhumanityandcompassion？
6。ThetrueOriginoftheRightofSlavery。Itistimetoinquireintothetrueoriginoftherightofslavery。Itoughttobefoundedonthenatureofthings；letusseeiftherebeanycaseswhereitcanbederivedthence。
Inalldespoticgovernmentspeoplemakenodifficultyinsellingthemselves；thepoliticalslaveryinsomemeasureannihilatesthecivilliberty。
AccordingtoMr。Perry，[7]theMuscovitessellthemselvesveryreadily：
theirreasonforitisevident；theirlibertyisnotworthkeeping。
AtAchimeveryoneisforsellinghimself。Someofthechieflords[8]
havenotlessthanathousandslaves，allprincipalmerchants，whohaveagreatnumberofslavesthemselves，andthesealsoarenotwithouttheirslaves。Theirmastersaretheirheirs，andputthemintotrade。Inthosestates，thefreemenbeingoverpoweredbythegovernment，havenobetterresourcethanthatofmakingthemselvesslavestothetyrantsinoffice。
Thisisthetrueandrationaloriginofthatmildlawofslaverywhichobtainsinsomecountries：andmilditoughttobe，asfoundedonthefreechoiceamanmakesofamaster，forhisownbenefit；whichformsamutualconventionbetweenthetwoparties。
7。AnotherOriginoftheRightofSlavery。Thereisanotheroriginoftherightofslavery，andevenofthemostcruelslaverywhichistobeseenamongmen。
Therearecountrieswheretheexcessofheatenervatesthebody，andrendersmensoslothfulanddispiritedthatnothingbutthefearofchastisementcanobligethemtoperformanylaboriousduty：slaveryistheremorereconcilabletoreason；andthemasterbeingaslazywithrespecttohissovereignashisslaveiswithregardtohim，thisaddsapoliticaltoacivilslavery。
Aristotle[9]endeavourstoprovethattherearenaturalslaves；butwhathesaysisfarfromprovingit。Iftherebeanysuch，IbelievetheyarethoseofwhomIhavebeenspeaking。
Butasallmenarebornequal，slaverymustbeaccountedunnatural，thoughinsomecountriesitbefoundedonnaturalreason；andawidedifferenceoughttobemadebetweensuchcountries，andthoseinwhichevennaturalreasonrejectsit，asinEurope，whereithasbeensohappilyabolished。
Plutarch，intheLifeofNuma，saysthatinSaturn’stimetherewasneitherslavenormaster。Christianityhasrestoredthatageinourclimates。
8。InutilityofSlaveryamongus。Naturalslavery，then，istobelimitedtosomeparticularpartsoftheworld。Inallothercountries，eventhemostserviledrudgeriesmaybeperformedbyfreemen。Experienceverifiesmyassertion。BeforeChristianityhadabolishedcivilslaveryinEurope，workinginthemineswasjudgedtootoilsomeforanybutslavesormalefactors：atpresenttherearemenemployedinthemwhoareknowntolivecomfortably。[10]Themagistrateshave，bysomesmallprivileges，encouragedthisprofession：toanincreaseoflabourtheyhavejoinedanincreaseofgain；andhavegonesofarastomakethosepeoplebetterpleasedwiththeirconditionthanwithanyotherwhichtheycouldhaveembraced。
Nolabourissoheavybutitmaybebroughttoalevelwiththeworkman’sstrength，whenregulatedbyequity，andnotbyavarice。Theviolentfatigueswhichslavesaremadetoundergoinotherpartsmaybesuppliedbyaskilfuluseofingeniousmachines。TheTurkishminesintheBannatofTemesw？r，thoughricherthanthoseofHungary，didnotyieldsomuch；becausetheworkingofthemdependedentirelyonthestrengthoftheirslaves。
Iknownotwhetherthisarticlebedictatedbymyunderstandingorbymyheart。Possiblythereisnotthatclimateuponearthwherethemostlaboriousservicesmightnotwithproperencouragementbeperformedbyfreemen。Badlawshavingmadelazymen，theyhavebeenreducedtoslaverybecauseoftheirlaziness。
9。SeveralKindsofSlavery。Slaveryisoftwokinds，realandpersonal。
Therealannexestheslavetotheland，whichTacitusmakes[11]theconditionofslavesamongtheGermans。Theywerenotemployedinthefamily：astatedtributeofcorn，cattle，orothermovables，paidtotheirmaster，wasthewholeoftheirservitude。AndsuchaservitudestillcontinuesinHungary，Bohemia，andseveralpartsofLowerGermany。
Personalslaveryconsistsindomesticservices，andrelatesmoretothemaster’sperson。
Theworstdegreeofslaveryiswhenitisatoncebothrealandpersonal，asthatoftheHelotesamongtheLaced？monians。Theyunderwentthefatiguesofthefield，andsufferedallmannerofinsultsathome。
Thishelotismiscontrarytothenatureofthings。Realslaveryistobefoundonlyamongnationsremarkablefortheirsimplicityoflife：[12]
allfamilybusinessbeingdonebythewivesandchildren。Personalslaveryispeculiartovoluptuousnations；luxuryrequiringtheserviceofslavesinthehouse。Buthelotismjoinsinthesamepersontheslaveryestablishedbyvoluptuousnationsandthatofthemostsimple。
10。RegulationsnecessaryinrespecttoSlavery。Butofwhatsoeverkindtheslaverybe，thecivillawsshouldendeavourontheonehandtoabolishtheabusesofit，andontheothertoguardagainstitsdangers。
11。AbusesofSlavery。InMahometanstates，[13]notonlythelifeandgoodsoffemaleslaves，butalsowhatiscalledtheirvirtueorhonour，areattheirmaster’sdisposal。Oneofthemisfortunesofthosecountriesisthatthegreatestpartofthenationarebornonlytobesubservienttothepleasuresoftheother。Thisservitudeisalleviatedbythelazinessinwhichsuchslavesspendtheirdays；whichisanadditionaldisadvantagetothestate。
Itisthisindolencewhichrenderstheeasternseragliossodelightfultothoseverypersonswhomtheyweremadetoconfine。[14]Peoplewhodreadnothingbutlabourmayimaginethemselveshappyinthoseplacesofindolenceandease。Butthisshowshowcontrarytheyaretotheveryintentoftheinstitutionofslavery。
Reasonrequiresthatthemaster’spowershouldnotextendtowhatdoesnotappertaintohisservice：slaveryshouldbecalculatedforutility，andnotforpleasure。Thelawsofchastityarisefromthoseofnature，andoughtinallnationstoberespected。
Ifalawwhichpreservesthechastityofslavesbegoodinthosestateswhereanarbitrarypowerbearsdownallbeforeit，howmuchmorewillitbesoinmonarchies，andhowmuchmorestillinrepublics？
ThelawoftheLombards[15]hasaregulationwhichoughttobeadoptedbyallgovernments。\"Ifamasterdebaucheshisslave’swife，theslaveandhiswifeshallberestoredtotheirfreedom。\"Anadmirableexpedient，which，withoutseverity，laysapowerfulrestraintontheincontinenceofmasters！
TheRomansseemtohaveerredonthishead。Theyallowedanunlimitedscopetothemaster’slusts，and，insomemeasure，deniedtheirslavestheprivilegeofmarrying。Itistrue，theywerethelowestpartofthenation；yetthereshouldhavebeensomecaretakenoftheirmorals，especiallyasinprohibitingtheirmarriagetheycorruptedthemoralsofthecitizens。
12。DangerfromtheMultitudeofSlaves。Themultitudeofslaveshasdifferenteffectsindifferentgovernments。Itisnogrievanceinadespoticstate，wherethepoliticalservitudeofthewholebodytakesawaythesenseofcivilslavery。Thosewhoarecalledfreedmeninrealityarelittlemoresothantheywhodonotcomewithinthatclass；
andasthelatter，inqualityofeunuchs，freedmen，orslaves，havegenerallythemanagementofallaffairs，theconditionofafreedmanandthatofaslaveareverynearlyallied。Thismakesitthereforealmostamatterofindifferencewhetherinsuchstatestheslavesbefewornumerous。
Butinmoderategovernmentsitisapointofthehighestimportancethatthereshouldnotbeagreatnumberofslaves。Thepoliticallibertyofthosestatesaddstothevalueofcivilliberty；andhewhoisdeprivedofthelatterisalsobereftoftheformer。Heseesthehappinessofasociety，ofwhichheisnotsomuchasamember；heseesthesecurityofothersfencedbylaws，himselfwithoutanyprotection。Heperceivesthathismasterhasasoul，capableofenlargingitself：whilehisownlaboursunderacontinualdepression。Nothingmoreassimilatesamantoabeastthanlivingamongfreedmen，himselfaslave。Suchpeopleasthesearenaturalenemiesofsociety；andtheirnumbermustbedangerous。
Itisnotthereforetobewonderedatthatmoderategovernmentshavebeensofrequentlydisturbedbytherevoltsofslaves，andthatthissoseldomhappensindespoticstates。[16]
13。OfarmedSlaves。Thedangerofarmingslavesisnotsogreatinmonarchiesasinrepublics。Intheformer，awarlikepeopleandabodyofnobilityareasufficientcheckuponthesearmedslaves；whereasthepacificmembersofarepublicwouldhaveahardtasktoquellasetofmenwho，havingoffensiveweaponsintheirhands，wouldfindthemselvesamatchforthecitizens。
TheGoths，whoconqueredSpain，spreadthemselvesoverthecountry，andsoonbecameveryweak。Theymadethreeimportantregulations：theyabolishedanancientcustomwhichprohibitedintermarriageswiththeRomans；[17]theyenactedthatallthefreedmen[18]belongingtotheFiscusshouldserveinwar，underpenaltyofbeingreducedtoslavery；
andtheyordainedthateachGothshouldarmandbringintothefieldthetenthpartofhisslaves。[19]Thiswasbutasmallproportion：besides，theseslavesthuscarriedtothefielddidnotformaseparatebody；
theywereinthearmy，andmightbesaidtocontinueinthefamily。
14。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Whenawholenationisofamartialtemper，theslavesinarmsarelesstobefeared。
ByalawoftheAlemans，aslavewhohadcommittedaclandestinetheft[20]wasliabletothesamepunishmentasafreedmaninthelikecase；butifhewasfoundguiltyofanopenrobbery，[21]hewasonlyboundtorestorethethingssotaken。AmongtheAlemans，courageandintrepidityextenuatedtheguiltofanaction。Theyemployedtheirslavesintheirwars。Mostrepublicshavebeenattentivetodispirittheirslaves；buttheAlemans，relyingonthemselvesandbeingalwaysarmed，weresofarfromfearingtheirsthattheywereratherforaugmentingtheircourage；theyweretheinstrumentseitheroftheirdepredationsoroftheirglory。
15。PrecautionstobeusedinModerateGovernments。Lenityandhumanetreatmentmaypreventthedangerstobeapprehendedfromthemultitudeofslavesinamoderategovernment。Mengrowreconciledtoeverything，andeventoservitude，ifnotaggravatedbytheseverityofthemaster。
TheAthenianstreatedtheirslaveswithgreatlenity；andthissecuredthatstatefromthecommotionsraisedbytheslavesamongtheaustereLaced？monians。
ItdoesnotappearthattheprimitiveRomansmetwithanytroublefromtheirslaves。ThosecivilbroilswhichhavebeencomparedtothePunicwarsweretheconsequenceoftheirhavingdivestedthemselvesofallhumanitytowardstheirslaves。[22]
Afrugalandlaboriouspeoplegenerallytreattheirslavesmorekindlythanthosewhoareabovelabour。TheprimitiveRomansusedtolive，work，andeatwiththeirslaves；inshort，theybehavedtowardsthemwithjusticeandhumanity。Thegreatestpunishmenttheymadethemsufferwastomakethempassbeforetheirneighbourswithaforkedpieceofwoodontheirbacks。Theirmannersweresufficienttosecurethefidelityoftheirslaves；sothattherewasnonecessityforlaws。
ButwhentheRomansaggrandisedthemselves；whentheirslaveswerenolongerthecompanionsoftheirlabour，buttheinstrumentsoftheirluxuryandpride；astheythenwantedmorals，theyhadneedoflaws。Itwasevennecessaryfortheselawstobeofthemostterriblekind，inordertoestablishthesafetyofthosecruelmasterswholivedwiththeirslavesasinthemidstofenemies。
TheymadetheSillanianSenatus—Consultum，andotherlaws，[23]whichdecreedthatwhenamasterwasmurderedalltheslavesunderthesameroof，orinanyplacesonearthehouseastobewithinthehearingofaman’svoice，should，withoutdistinction，becondemnedtodie。Thosewhointhiscaseshelteredaslave，inordertosavehim，werepunishedasmurderers；[24]hewhomhismaster[25]orderedtokillhim，andwhoobeyed，wasreputedguilty；evenhewhodidnothinderhimfromkillinghimselfwasliabletobepunished。[26]Ifamasterwasmurderedonajourney，theyputtodeaththosewhowerewithhimandthosewhofled。[27]Alltheselawsoperatedevenagainstpersonswhoseinnocencewasproved；theintentofthemwastoinspiretheirslaveswithaprodigiousrespectfortheirmaster。Theywerenotdependentonthecivilgovernment，butonafaultorimperfectionofthecivilgovernment。Theywerenotderivedfromtheequityofcivillaws，sincetheywerecontrarytotheprincipleofthoselaws。Theywereproperlyfoundedontheprinciplesofwar，withthisdifference，thattheenemieswereinthebosomofthestate。TheSillanianSenatus—Consultumwasderivedfromthelawofnations，whichrequiresthatasociety，howeverimperfect，shouldbepreserved。
Itisamisfortuneingovernmentwhenthemagistratesthusfindthemselvesunderthenecessityofmakingcruellaws；becausetheyhaverenderedobediencedifficult，theyareobligedtoincreasethepenaltyofdisobedience，ortosuspecttheslave’sfidelity。Aprudentlegislatorforeseestheillconsequencesofrenderingthelegislatureterrible。TheslavesamongsttheRomanscouldhavenoconfidenceinthelaws；andthereforethelawscouldhavenoneinthem。
16。RegulationsbetweenMastersandSlaves。Themagistratesoughttotakecarethattheslavehashisfoodandraiment；andthisshouldberegulatedbylaw。
Thelawsoughttoprovidethatcarebetakenoftheminsicknessandoldage。Claudius[28]decreedthattheslaveswhoinsicknesshadbeenabandonedbytheirmastersshould，incasetheyrecovered，beemancipated。Thislawinsuredtheirliberty；butshouldnottherehavebeensomecarealsotakentopreservetheirlives？
Whenthelawpermittedamastertotakeawaythelifeofhisslave，hewasinvestedwithapowerwhichheoughttoexerciseasjudge，andnotasmaster；itwasnecessary，therefore，thatthelawshouldordainthoseformalitieswhichremovethesuspicionofanactofviolence。
Whenfathers，atRome，werenolongerpermittedtoputtheirchildrentodeath，themagistratesordainedthepunishmentwhichthefatherwouldhaveinflicted。[29]Alikecustombetweenthemasterandhisslaveswouldbehighlyreasonableinacountrywheremastershavethepoweroflifeanddeath。
ThelawofMoseswasextremelysevere。Ifamanstruckhisservantsothathediedunderhishand，hewastobepunished；but，ifhesurvivedadayortwo，nopunishmentensued，becausehewashismoney。[30]
Strangethatacivilinstitutionshouldthusrelaxthelawofnature！
ByalawoftheGreeks，[31]aslavetooseverelytreatedbyhismastermightinsistuponbeingsoldtoanother。InlatertimestherewasalawofthesamenatureatRome。[32]Amasterdispleasedwithhisslave，andaslavewithhismaster，oughttobeseparated。
Whenacitizenusestheslaveofanotherill，thelatteroughttohavethelibertyofcomplainingbeforethejudge。ThelawsofPlato，[33]andofmostnations，tookawayfromslavestherightofnaturaldefence。Itwasnecessarythenthattheyshouldgivethemacivildefence。
AtSpartaslavescouldhavenojusticeagainsteitherinsultsorinjuries。Soexcessivewastheirmisery，thattheywerenotonlytheslavesofacitizen，butalsoofthepublic；theybelongedtoall，aswellastoone。AtRome，whentheyconsideredtheinjurydonetoaslave，theyhadregardonlytotheinterestofthemaster。[34]InthebreachoftheAquilianlawtheyconfoundedawoundgiventoabeastandthatgiventoaslave；theyregardedonlythediminutionoftheirvalue。
AtAthens，[35]hewhohadabusedtheslaveofanotherwaspunishedseverely，andsometimesevenwithdeath。ThelawofAthenswasveryreasonableinnotaddingthelossofsecuritytothatofliberty。
17。OfEnfranchisements。Itiseasytoperceivethatmanyslavesinarepublicangovernmentcreateanecessityofmakingmanyfree。Theevilis，iftheyhavetoogreatanumberofslavestheycannotkeeptheminduebounds；iftheyhavetoomanyfreedmen，theycannotlive，andmustbecomeaburdentotherepublic：besides，itmaybeasmuchindangerfromthemultitudeoffreedmenasfromthatofslaves。Itisnecessary，therefore，thatthelawshouldhaveaneyetothesetwoinconveniences。
TheseverallawsanddecreesofthesenatemadeatRome，bothforandagainstslaves，sometimestolimit，andatothertimestofacilitate，theirenfranchisement，plainlyshowtheembarrassmentinwhichtheyfoundthemselvesinthisrespect。Therewereeventimesinwhichtheydurstnotmakelaws。When，underNero，[36]theydemandedofthesenatepermissionforthemasterstoreduceagaintoslaverytheungratefulfreedmen，theemperordeclaredthatitwastheirdutytodecidetheaffairsofindividuals，andtomakenogeneraldecree。
MuchlesscanIdeterminewhatoughttobetheregulationsofagoodrepublicinsuchanaffair；thisdependsontoomanycircumstances。Letus，however，makesomereflections。
Aconsiderablenumberoffreedmenoughtnotsuddenlytobemadebyagenerallaw。WeknownthatamongtheVolsinienses[37]thefreedmen，becomingmastersofthesuffrages，enactedanabominablelaw，whichgavethemtherightoflyingthefirstnightwiththeyoungwomenmarriedtothefree—born。
Thereareseveralwaysofinsensiblyintroducingnewcitizensintoarepublic。Thelawsmayfavourtheacquiringapeculium，andputslavesintoaconditionofbuyingtheirliberty：theymayprescribeatermtoservitude，likethoseofMoses，whichlimitedthatoftheHebrewslavestosixyears。[38]Itiseasytoenfranchiseeveryyearacertainnumberofthoseslaveswho，bytheirage，health，orindustry，arecapableofgettingasubsistence。Theevilmaybeevencuredinitsroot，asagreatnumberofslavesareconnectedwiththeseveralemploymentswhicharegiventhem；todivideamongthefree—bornapartoftheseemployments，forexample，commerceornavigation，isdiminishingthenumberofslaves。
Whentherearemanyfreedmen，itisnecessarythatthecivillawsshoulddeterminewhattheyowetotheirpatron，orthatthesedutiesshouldbefixedbythecontractofenfranchisement。
Itiscertainthattheirconditionshouldbemorefavouredinthecivilthaninthepoliticalstate；because，eveninapopulargovernment，thepoweroughtnottofallintothehandsofthevulgar。
AtRome，wheretheyhadsomanyfreedmen，thepoliticallawswithregardtothemwereadmirable。Theygavethemverylittle，andexcludedthemalmostfromnothing：theyhadevenashareinthelegislature，buttheresolutionstheywerecapableoftakingwerealmostofnoweight。Theymightbearapartinthepublicoffices，andeveninthedignityofthepriesthood；[39]butthisprivilegewasinsomesortrendereduselessbythedisadvantagestheyhadtoencounterintheelections。Theyhadarighttoenterintothearmy；buttheyweretoberegisteredinacertainclassofthecensusbeforetheycouldbesoldiers。Nothinghinderedthe[40]freedmenfrombeingunitedbymarriagewiththefamiliesofthefree—born；buttheywerenotpermittedtomixwiththoseofthesenator。Inshort，theirchildrenwerefree—born，thoughtheywerenotsothemselves。
18。OfFreedmenandEunuchs。Thusinarepublicangovernmentitisfrequentlyofadvantagethatthesituationofthefreedmenbebutlittlebelowthatofthefree—born，andthatthelawsbecalculatedtoremoveadislikeoftheircondition。Butinadespoticgovernment，whereluxuryandarbitrarypowerprevail，theyhavenothingtodointhisrespect；
thefreedmengenerallyfindingthemselvesabovethefree—born。Theyruleinthecourtoftheprince，andinthepalacesofthegreat；andastheystudythefoiblesandnotthevirtuesoftheirmaster，theyleadhimentirelybytheformer，notbythelatter。SuchwerethefreedmenofRomeinthetimesoftheemperors。