University of Virginia Library

7062. PROPERTY, Stable ownership.—

By an universal law, indeed, whatever [property],
whether fixed or movable, belongs to
all men equally and in common, is the property
for the moment of him who occupies it;
but when he relinquishes the occupation, the
property goes with it. Stable ownership is
the gift of social law, and is given late in
the progress of society.—
To Isaac McPherson. Washington ed. vi, 180.
(M. 1813)