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past masters commons

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cover
The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition.
cover
Volume I.
Body
BOOK VI.: CONSEQUENCES OF THE PRINCIPLES OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENTS WITH RESPECT TO THE SIMPLICITY OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAWS, THE FORM OF JUDGEMENTS, AND THE INFLICTING OF PUNISHMENTS.
CHAP. XIX.: Of the Law of Retaliation.

CHAP. XIX.: Of the Law of Retaliation.

THE use of the law of retaliation†197 is very frequent in despotic countries, where they are fond of

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simple laws. Moderate governments admit of it sometimes; but with this difference, that the former exercise it in full rigour, whereas, among the latter, it ever receives some kind of limitation.

The law of the twelve tables admitted two; first, it never condemned to retaliation but when the plaintiff could not be satisfied in any other manner†198: secondly, after condemnation they might pay damages and interest†199, and then the corporal was changed into a pecuniary punishment†200.