PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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The Division of Rights. 77
The right we have to most of these things~ich
we c~U property, as houses, lands, rnoney, &c. is
alienable.
The right of a prince over his people, of a hUS-,
band over his wife, of a ma~~er
generally and naturally unaltenable. . .
The distinction depends upon the mode of acquiring
the right.
over his senant, is .'
If the rigltt originate from a contract,
and be limited to the per son by the express
terms of the contract, or by the common interpreta.
tion of such contracts, (\vhich is equivalent to an eX-J"
press stipulation) or by a persolUll condition annexed
to the right, then it is unalienable. In all 'Jther casev
it is alienable.
'Il!e right to civil liberty is alienabie j though in
the yehemence of men's zeal for it, and in the Ian .. },
guage of some political remonstrances, it has often,
been pronounced to be an unalienable right.
The
true reason why· mankind hold in detestation the
memory of those who have sold their liberty to a .
tyrant, is, that together with their own, they sold
commonly, or endangered' the liberty of others;
which certainly they had,no right to dispose of. .
T HI RDL Y l. Rights are perfect or imperfect.
; "
P~rfe~t rights may ~~_age..r.ted- by force,or,---what_
in civiL~Q~iety . comes.intothe-place of prilmte.farc~_ .
by course o£la.WL.-
Inlperl~~!Jights m~LnQtL-.
Exampies of perfect rights. A man's right to his
life, person, house; for if these be attacked, he may
repel the attack by instant violence, or punish the "­
aggressor by law: a man's right to his estate, furni.
ture, clothes, money, and to all ordinary articl~s
property; for if they be injuriously taken from
him, he may compel the author of the injury to
Dlake restitution or satisfaction~ - ·
Examples of imperfect rights. In elections or appointments
to offices, where the qualitications are V
of