French republicans framed antislavery as a uniquely republican duty distinct from monarchist empires.

Evidence

Roume, to his credit, disagreed with this passive approach; like Ponty, he believed that more could be done and sooner. For him, too, slavery offended “French genius and its traditions” and contradicted “the fundamental principles of French public law.” “We cannot proclaim,” Roume declared, “as have certain powers with monarchist governments, which are not bound by the same doctrines as the French Republic, the theoretical freedom of the natives, only to deny it in practice.” Furthermore, “individual liberty is for [France] indefeasible and inalienable. It does not recognize the individual’s right to contract a personal engagement that forever deprives him of his own freedom.” — Alice L. Conklin, A Mission to Civilize_ The Republican…, 336

Categorization

• DEFINE: Establishes the core republican ideological doctrine that individual liberty is indefeasible — a framing that recurs throughout the book.