But I apprehend it will be more clear and easy, to consider many of them as duties required from, rather than as rights belonging to, particular persons.
Allegiance is the right of the magistrate, and protection the right of the people.
Persons also are divided by the law into either natural persons, or artificial. The rights of persons considered in their natural capacities are also of two sorts, absolute, and relative. The first, that is, absolute rights, will be the subject of the present chapter. But with regard to the absolute duties, which man is bound to perform considered as a mere individual, it is not to be expected that any human municipal laws should at all explain or enforce them. For the end and intent of such laws being only to regulate the behaviour of mankind, as they are members of society, and stand in various relations to each other, they have consequently no business or concern with any but social or relative duties.