Somehavingthought，thattheunequaldistributionofwealthisunjust，requiredanewdivisionofproperty，asthefoundationoffreedom。Thisschemeissuitedtodemocraticalgovernment；andinsuchonlyithasbeenadmittedwithanydegreeofeffect。
Newsettlements，likethatofthepeopleofIsrael，andsingularestablishments，likethoseofSpartaandCrete，havefurnishedexamplesofitsactualexecution；butinmostotherstates，eventhedemocraticalspiritcouldattainnomorethantoprolongthestruggleforAgrarianlaws；toprocure，onoccasion，theexpungingofdebts；andtokeepthepeopleinmind，underallthedistinctionsoffortune，thattheystillhadaclaimtoequality。
ThecitizenatRome，atAthens，andinmanyrepublics，contendedforhimself，andhisorder。TheAgrarianlawwasmovedanddebatedforages:itservedtoawakenthemind；itnourishedthespiritofequality，andfurnishedafieldonwhichtoexertitsforce；butwasneverestablishedwithanyofitsotherandmoreformaleffects。
Manyoftheestablishmentswhichservetodefendtheweakfromoppression，contribute，bysecuringthepossessionofproperty，tofavouritsunequaldivision，andtoincreasetheascendantofthosefromwhomtheabusesofpowermaybefeared。ThoseabuseswerefeltveryearlybothatAthensandRome。19*
Ithasbeenproposedtopreventtheexcessiveaccumulationofwealthinparticularhands，bylimitingtheincreaseofprivatefortunes，byprohibitingentails，andbywith-holdingtherightofprimogenitureinthesuccessionofheirs。Ithasbeenproposedtopreventtheruinofmoderateestates，andtorestraintheuse，andconsequentlythedesire，ofgreatones，bysumptuarylaws。