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THE RELATIVE DUTIES OF MANKIND. [Fart III.

integrity. Hence, the prominent rank which this principle holdsin mercantile law, and the high and commanding tone of its stemmorality in the rules it prescribes for the government and conductof merchants.” In regard to the numerous and important agen-cies known to mercantile transactions, the law with evident rea-sonableness requires, “ that the trust of every agent be executedwith the most scrupulous fidelity and exactness ; that he paycareful obedience to the orders of his employers ; that he con-sult their advantage in matters referred to his discretion ; that heexecute their business with all the despatch that circumstanceswill admit ; that he be early in his intelligence, distinct in his ac-counts, and punctual in his correspondence.” These injunctionsapply to every one who undertakes to transact the business ofanother, or to perform for him any act on which his interest de-pends. “ To remove all temptation from the agent to violatethe rule requiring his intercourse with his principal to be open,frank, pure, prompt, and even above suspicion, which is so neces-sary to the security of trade and commerce, the law allows him,in no case, to enrich himself beyond his stipulated or customarycompensation, by the property confided to his care.” “ Thelaw requires at his hands the most inviolable integrity, and, topreserve him from the temptation to do wrong, it puts it out ofhis power to do it with success.” *

Thus every branch of the law enforces the precepts of goodmorals, so far as it is in its power to enforce them. But itspower is limited ; it cannot reach the many duties that belong tothe class of imperfect obligations ; these must be left to the con-sciences of individuals. Their nature is such, that human lawsdo not and cannot undertake to enforce them; and in this respectthe rules of no department of the law, are so perfect as the dic-tates of conscience ; and the sphere of morality is more enlargedthan the limits of civil jurisdiction.!

3. The principles of Christian morals are recognised as thestandard of the rules of law, and every contract or agreementinconsistent with good morals in a very extensive use of that

* Manuscript Lecture of Professor Greenleaf, of Harvard University,t See p. 31,