Every history of the creation, and every traditionary account,
whether from the lettered or unlettered world, however they may vary
in their opinion or belief of certain particulars, all agree in
establishing one point, the unity of man; by which I mean that men
are all of one degree, and consequently that all men are born equal,
and with equal natural right, in the same manner as if posterity had
been continued by creation instead of generation, the latter being
the only mode by which the former is carried forward; and
consequently every child born into the world must be considered as
deriving its existence from God. The world is as new to him as it was
to the first man that existed, and his natural right in it is of the
same kind.

The Mosaic account of the creation, whether taken as divine authority
or merely historical, is full to this point, the unity or equality of
man. The expression admits of no controversy. "And God said, Let us
make man in our own image. In the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them." The distinction of sexes is pointed out,
but no other distinction is even implied. If this be not divine
authority, it is at least historical authority, and shows that the
equality of man, so far from being a modern doctrine, is the oldest
upon record.

It is also to be observed that all the religions known in the world
are founded, so far as they relate to man, on the unity of man, as
being all of one degree. Whether in heaven or in hell, or in whatever
state man may be supposed to exist hereafter, the good and the bad
are the only distinctions. Nay, even the laws of governments are
obliged to slide into this principle, by making degrees to consist in
crimes and not in persons.