第6章 SECT.IV

A wise legislator will endeavour to confirm the natural bonds of society,and give vigour to the first principles on whichpolitical union must depend.He will preserve the distinctions which exist in nature independent of his authority,and thevarious relations which,antecedent to his creation,connected man to man.He will study the natural obligations which arisefrom these relations,that he may strengthen these connections by the sanction of his laws.Among the first of theserelations stands the relation of a servant to his master;and the first duty required from a servant is prompt,chearful,andhearty obedience.On this condition alone can the connection be preserved,as without due subordination all governmentmust end.But our laws tend to weaken these bonds,and to destroy this subordination,by compelling the occupier of landto find employment for the poor.With this provision,what have they to fear when discharged from service?If one will notemploy them,another must.If the work be slighted or neglected,if it be deserted in the pressing hour,or spoiled in theexecution,it is to little'purpose for the master to complain;he can have no redress.Does he seek relief from the civilpower?The unequal contest is begun,and the remedy will be worse than the disease.Both the servant and the masterknow when the work is ill performed,or when the servant has not earnt his wages,even when legal proof is wanting.Ifthen the master has no other remedy,he is at the mercy of his servants;he must connive at their neglects,and bear theirimpertinence with patience.There is no alternative but this,or to maintain them without work.The appeal in this case to amagistrate is from a superior tribunal to the inferior,from the stronger to the weaker.Where the natural sanctions aresufficient to secure obedience without disturbing the peace and good order of society;there a wise legislator will be carefulnot to interfere,lest,by weakening these,without being able to substitute better in their place,he should stop the course ofjustice and protect the guilty.The wisest legislator will never be able to devise a more equitable,a more effectual,or in anyrespect a more suitable punishment,than hunger is for a disobedient servant.Hunger will tame the fiercest animals,it willteach decency and civility,obedience and subjection,to the most brutish,the most obstinate,and the most perverse.Agood servant need not be afraid of wanting work.If one master should dismiss him from his service,others will be happy toreceive him.But should a man be notorious for a thief,and for spoiling or neglecting work;should he be either so false,sovicious,or so ill-tempered,that no master would be willing to employ him;it would certainly be just that he should sufferhunger till he had learnt to reform his conduct.There are perhaps few parishes which cannot produce some of thisuntoward disposition.Indeed it is the general complaint of farmers,that their men do not work so well as they used to do,when it was reproachful to be relieved by the parish.