15.11. 11. Abuses of Slavery.
In Mahometan states,
[13]
not only the life and goods of female slaves, but also what is called their virtue or
honour, are at their master's disposal. One of the misfortunes of those
countries is that the greatest part of the nation are born only to be
subservient to the pleasures of the other. This servitude is alleviated
by the laziness in which such slaves spend their days; which is an
additional disadvantage to the state.
It is this indolence which renders the eastern seraglios so
delightful to those very persons whom they were made to confine.
[14]
People who dread nothing but labour may imagine themselves happy in
those places of indolence and ease. But this shows how contrary they are
to the very intent of the institution of slavery.
Reason requires that the master's power should not extend to what
does not appertain to his service: slavery should be calculated for
utility, and not for pleasure. The laws of chastity arise from those of
nature, and ought in all nations to be respected.
If a law which preserves the chastity of slaves be good in those
states where an arbitrary power bears down all before it, how much more
will it be so in monarchies, and how much more still in republics?
The law of the Lombards
[15]
has a regulation which ought to be
adopted by all governments. "If a master debauches his slave's wife, the
slave and his wife shall be restored to their freedom." An admirable
expedient, which, without severity, lays a powerful restraint on the
incontinence of masters!
The Romans seem to have erred on this head. They allowed an
unlimited scope to the master's lusts, and, in some measure, denied
their slaves the privilege of marrying. It is true, they were the lowest
part of the nation; yet there should have been some care taken of their
morals, especially as in prohibiting their marriage they corrupted the
morals of the citizens.
Footnotes
[13]
Sir John Chardin, "Travels to Persia."
[14]
Sir John Chardin, ii, in his description of the market of
Izagour.
