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

British Constitutio;,.
ed from these projects, namely, '.' less flexibility to
the influence of the crown" And since the diminu.
tion of this influence is th.e declared, and perhap~ the
sole design of the various schemes that have been produced'
whether for regulating the elections, (ontracting
the duration,or for purifying the constitution of parlialnent
by the exclusion of placemen and pen~ioners;
it is c~'lvious to relnark, tllat the more apt and
natural, a.s well as the more sate and quiet ,vay of attaining
the same end, would be, by a direct reduction
of the patronage of the crOWD, \vhich might be ef.
fected to a certain extent without hazarding farther
consequences. Super~uous and exorbitant emoluments
of office may net only be suppressed for the
present; but provision~ of law be devised, which
should for the furure restrain~ within certain Iim!t~,
the nunlaer and value of the offices in the donation of
the king.
But whilst we dispute concerning different schemes
of reformation, all directed to the same end, a previous
doubt occurs in the debate, whpther the end itself
be good or safe-whether the influence so loudly
complanied of can be destroyed, or even much di.
nlini~·hed \vithout danger to the ~tate. \Vhilst tIle
zeal of some men beholds this influence with a jealousy,
which nothing but its entire abolition can appease,
many wise' and virtuous politicians deem a
considerable portion of it to be as nece~sary a part of
the British Constitution, as any other ingredient in
the conlposition-to be that, indeed, \vhich gives co··
hesi)n and solidity to the whole. Were the measures
of government, say they, opposed from nothing but
principle, , ')vernment ought to have nothing hut the
rectitude ot its measures to support them; but since
opposition spring~ from other motives, govcl"nmellt
must possess an influence to counteract these motives;
to produce, not a bias of the passions, but a neutrali.
ty: it must have some weight to cast into the scale
to set the balance even.
It is the nature of TJo\;,'er
al\vays to press upon the boundaries which confine it.
Licentiou~ness, faction, envy, impatience of control
or inferiorlty j the secret pleasure of mortifying the