134 ON THE RIGHTS OF BEASTS. 



to thofe rights, of which they are capable 

 under the focial contract, might intrench upon 

 private property, and be productive of trifling, 

 ludicrous, or vexatious litigations. I anfwer, 

 and I think I am as much in earnefl as General 

 Dumouriez, 



Fais re que dois 

 Avienne que pourra. 



That I think alfo to be the proper anfwer, 

 to an infinite number of ifs and ands, which it 

 has ever been the fafhion to ftart in prevention 

 of right. A man may fay, I bought the bead 

 with my money, it is my property ; who fhall 

 hinder me from doing unto it, according to my 

 pleafure? You bought him with your money, 

 it is true, and he is your property ; but whether 

 you are apprifed of it or not, you bought him 

 with a condition neceflarily annexed to the 

 bargain. You could not purchafe the right to 

 ufe him with cruelty and injuftice. Of whom 

 could you purchafe fuch right? Who could 

 make fuch conveyance? — Not even God him- 

 felf, whole energies are circumfcribed within 

 the limits of eternal juftice ; or who, to fpeak 

 more philosophically, is Eternal Juftice itfelf. 



As to the danger of litigation, from a law 

 made for the protection of hearts, none I think 

 need be apprehended; few would choofe to 

 rifk any trouble or expence on fuch an ac- 

 count; 



