Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1796 Excerpt: ...right; the power of the mob of Athens was like that of the Grand Signior, or the King and Parliament of Great Britain, a created conftitutional power, or like theirs an ufurpation. It would be as difficult to prove the title of the former, as of the two.latter governments. A reprefentative (ftri&ly fpeaking) muft be confidered as bound to obey the inftructions of his particular conftituents. This has been aflerted by candidates courting the favour of a mob; but no one can fuppofe, that fuch a line of conduct was. ever honeftly prefcribed by by a man of common fenfe, as the duty of a member of our parliament. Should it, however, be adopted, a fenate would not be a legiflative body, an integral part of the government of a nation, one and indivifible, but a congrefs of delegates, ftruggling for the discordant interefts of various petty jealous republics or focieties. The national welfare, could a nation exift on fuch principles, ought to be no more the object of the member than of his conftituents; and reprefentation, inftead of removing, would aggravate all the evils attendant on the perfonal exercife of popular fovereignty. A multitude adding for themfelves, though fickle, are naturally difpofed to act in unifon; but a multitude feparated in diftant provinces, and biafled by opponent interefts, acting by reprefentatives, will be both fickle and difcordant. And if we allow, that a member of parliament, though chofen by certain felect inhabitants of particular diftri&s or towns, is by his creation invefted with powers which he did not before poflefs, which his electors do not poflefs; that he is not refponfible to them, but bound to confult only the good of the nation; that man is endowed with a portion of ingenuity which has been denied to me, who can...
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