376 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



people, become nearly the same. The distine= 

 tions derived from birth, blood, hereditary tides 

 and honors, and a difference of rights and privi- 

 leges, are either unknown or resolve themselves 

 into nothing, among a people in such a situation ; 

 in every view, they cease to be of any use or 

 importance to them. Their situation naturally 

 leads them to discern the tendencies, and de- 

 signs of nature. They all feel that nature has 

 made them equal in respect to their rights ; or 

 rather that nature has given to them a common 

 and an equal right to liberty, to property, and to 

 safety ; to justice, government, laws, religion j 

 and freedom. They all see that nature has 

 made them very unequal in respect to their ori- 

 ginal powers, capacities, and talentSi They be- 

 come united in claiming and in preserving the 

 equality, which nature has assigned to them ; 

 and in availing themselves of the benefits* which 

 are designed, and may be derived from the in- 

 equality, which nature has also established. 

 Wherever a number of people are engaged in a 

 common, economical, laborious pursuit of sub- 

 sistence, property, and security ; such views of 

 their equality, and rights, immediately occur to 

 their minds ; they are easily discerned, and they 

 are perfectly well understood. 



Economy. Every thing in the situation and 

 employments of the people, ia a nev/ country, 

 will naturally tend to produce economy. There 

 are no large estates, or cultivated farms, prepar- 

 ed beforehand for the heir. Every thing for 

 food, raiment, and convenience, must be pro- 

 cured by the labor and industry of the planter ; 

 and it is not \vithout much difficulty and liard 



