1821 April 15:

First Lines

Means

Distributive

4 Equality

\PS\.4. Equality

Fourth on the list of the benefits which the Civil Branch of the Law is occupied in

distributing - /is/ equality.

Of the four several possessions, for which according to their several natures,

security for individuals is required individually considered, property is the only

one, with relation to which, equality requires, or with propriety admits of, any

considerable diversification. With the exception of such cases Except in so far as

security cannot be given /afforded/ to one man, but by defalcation made from the

security given /afforded/ to another -, where is the man to whom appropriate security

ought not to be afforded for his person for his reputation or for his condition in

life? Where is the man to whom for any one of those three possessions, greater or

better security ought to be afforded than to any other?

Remains property as the only one of the four possessions, remains property as the

only one in relation to which, the application of the benefit of equality requires

any considerable discrimination or reserve.

Subsistence, security, - to the value of both these benefits, the value of that

which is presented by the word equality, is plainly subordinate. In regard to

subsistence the case is - that considered as apart from, and unaccompanied by,

abundance, equality is essentially involved and included in the very conception of

it: for as consistently with the supposition no man can in this case have more of the

means of subsistence than another, so consistently with his existence no man can have

less.