18.16. 16. Of Civil Laws among People who know not the Use of Money.
When a people have not the use of money, they are seldom acquainted with any
other injustice than that which arises from violence; and the weak, by
uniting, defend themselves from its effects. They have nothing there but
political regulations. But where money is established, they are subject
to that injustice which proceeds from craft — an injustice that may be
exercised in a thousand ways. Hence they are forced to have good civil
laws, which spring up with the new practices of iniquity.
In countries where they have no specie, the robber takes only bare
movables, which have no mutual resemblance. But where they make use of
money, the robber takes the signs, and these always resemble each other.
In the former nothing can be concealed, because the robber takes along
with him the proofs of his conviction; but in the latter it is quite the
contrary.
