PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

British Constitution.
S67
first place, to decline aU conference with those who
wish to alter the form of government of these kingdoms.
The reformers with whom we have to do,
are they, who, whilst they change this part of the
. sy~tem, would retain the rest. If any Englishman
expects more happiness to his country under a republic,
he may very consLtently recommend a new model.
ling of ele.:tions to parliament; because, if the king
and house of lords were laid aside, the present disproportionate
representation would produce !lothing but
a confused and ill-djge~ted oligarchy. In like man ..
ner \ve \\Tave a controversy with those writers ~ho
ingist upon representation as a natural right:· we consider
it so far only as a right at all, as it conduces to
public utility; that is, as it contributes to the establi&hment
of good laws, or, as it secures to the people
the just administratiot.\ of these laws. These effects
depend upon the disposition and abilities of the national
counsellors. \Vherefore, if men, the most
likely by their qualifications to know and to prolllote
the public interest, be actually returned to parliament,
it signifies little who return them~ If the
properest persons be elected, what matters it by whom
they are elected? At least, no prudFntl~tesman
would subvert long established or even settled rules
of representation, without a prospect of procuring
wiser or better representatives. .
Thbthenbeingwel1 observed, let u~, before we seek
to obtain any thing more, consider duly what we al ..
ready have. We have a hou~e of commons,composed
of five hundred and forty-eight members, in which
number are found the most considerable landholders
and merchants of the kingdom; the heads of the ar~
my, the navy,and the law; theoccupiers of great offices
in the siate; together with many private individuals,
'.::minenc by their knowledge, eloquence, or activity.
~ It this r;ght uc IUJfllTdl, no douht it must h~ equal, and the right, we
n1a;' ~~Jd. of one et x, a~l ,,,ell ~s of the other. \Vhereas every plan of
I'tprce,,:ntiitioll, tb,lt we have heard of, b(:g;n~, hy excluding the votes of
~'nmi:n thus cntting off, at a !lingle stroke, one half of th\~ puhlic from a
";g}~jt which is arserted to be inh('rcDt in all; a right too, as lome represent
\~. 1'0" onlY nnlvers;a1) but un~\ticnahlc.,andindefea~ible .. an(( jmpr.~ttriptible ..