登陆注册
4132500000042

第42章 CHAP. XIII.(3)

Constant frequent meetings of the legislative, and long continuations of their assemblies, without necessary occasion, could not but be burdensome to the people, and must necessarily in time produce more dangerous inconveniencies, and yet the quick turn of affairs might be sometimes such as to need their present help: any delay of their convening might endanger the public; and sometimes too their business might be so great, that the limited time of their sitting might be too short for their work, and rob the public of that benefit which could be had only from their mature deliberation. What then could be done in this case to prevent the community from being exposed some time or other to eminent hazard, on one side or the other, by fixed intervals and periods, set to the meeting and acting of the legislative, but to intrust it to the prudence of some, who being present, and acquainted with the state of public affairs, might make use of this prerogative for the public good? and where else could this be so well placed as in his hands, who was intrusted with the execution of the laws for the same end? Thus supposing the regulation of times for the assembling and sitting of the legislative, not settled by the original constitution, it naturally fell into the hands of the executive, not as an arbitrary power depending on his good pleasure, but with this trust always to have it exercised only for the public weal, as the occurrences of times and change of affairs might require.

Whether settled periods of their convening, or a liberty left to the prince for convoking the legislative, or perhaps a mixture of both, hath the least inconvenience attending it, it is not my business here to inquire, but only to shew, that though the executive power may have the prerogative of convoking and dissolving such conventions of the legislative, yet it is not thereby superior to it.

Sec. 157. Things of this world are in so constant a flux, that nothing remains long in the same state. Thus people, riches, trade, power, change their stations, flourishing mighty cities come to ruin, and prove in times neglected desolate corners, whilst other unfrequented places grow into populous countries, filled with wealth and inhabitants. But things not always changing equally, and private interest often keeping up customs and privileges, when the reasons of them are ceased, it often comes to pass, that in governments, where part of the legislative consists of representatives chosen by the people, that in tract of time this representation becomes very unequal and disproportionate to the reasons it was at first established upon. To what gross absurdities the following of custom, when reason has left it, may lead, we may be satisfied, when we see the bare name of a town, of which there remains not so much as the ruins, where scarce so much housing as a sheepcote, or more inhabitants than a shepherd is to be found, sends as many representatives to the grand assembly of law-makers, as a whole county numerous in people, and powerful in riches. This strangers stand amazed at, and every one must confess needs a remedy; tho' most think it hard to find one, because the constitution of the legislative being the original and supreme act of the society, antecedent to all positive laws in it, and depending wholly on the people, no inferior power can alter it.

And therefore the people, when the legislative is once constituted, having, in such a government as we have been speaking of, no power to act as long as the government stands;this inconvenience is thought incapable of a remedy.

Sec. 158. Salus populi suprema lex, is certainly so just and fundamental a rule, that he, who sincerely follows it, cannot dangerously err. If therefore the executive, who has the power of convoking the legislative, observing rather the true proportion, than fashion of representation, regulates, not by old custom, but true reason, the number of members, in all places that have a right to be distinctly represented, which no part of the people however incorporated can pretend to, but in proportion to the assistance which it affords to the public, it cannot be judged to have set up a new legislative, but to have restored the old and true one, and to have rectified the disorders which succession of time had insensibly, as well as inevitably introduced: For it being the interest as well as intention of the people, to have a fair and equal representative; whoever brings it nearest to that, is an undoubted friend to, and establisher of the government, and cannot miss the consent and approbation of the community; prerogative being nothing but a power, in the hands of the prince, to provide for the public good, in such cases, which depending upon unforeseen and uncertain occurrences, certain and unalterable laws could not safely direct; whatsoever shall be done manifestly for the good of the people, and the establishing the government upon its true foundations, is, and always will be, just prerogative, The power of erecting new corporations, and therewith new representatives, carries with it a supposition, that in time the measures of representation might vary, and those places have a just right to be represented which before had none; and by the same reason, those cease to have a right, and be too inconsiderable for such a privilege, which before had it. 'Tis not a change from the present state, which perhaps corruption or decay has introduced, that makes an inroad upon the government, but the tendency of it to injure or oppress the people, and to set up one part or party, with a distinction from, and an unequal subjection of the rest. Whatsoever cannot but be acknowledged to be of advantage to the society, and people in general, upon just and lasting measures, will always, when done, justify itself; and whenever the people shall chuse their representatives upon just and undeniably equal measures, suitable to the original frame of the government, it cannot be doubted to be the will and act of the society, whoever permitted or caused them so to do.

同类推荐
  • 抱一函三秘诀

    抱一函三秘诀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太上正一法文经

    太上正一法文经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 福建通志列传选

    福建通志列传选

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 胎藏梵字真言

    胎藏梵字真言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 梅品

    梅品

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 梦中行者之知吾雨宫

    梦中行者之知吾雨宫

    在一个以科技为重心的星球“梦世”上,突然出现了以人精神为根据的能力。而为了测试这场能力。一场必将记入史册的孤单生存竞赛也就此拉开帷幕。
  • Sir Nigel

    Sir Nigel

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 摄政王的拽丫头

    摄政王的拽丫头

    小白版简介:啥?她穿越成了婴儿?赚了赚了,连本带利地赚了啊!啥?三岁的她对二十岁的他一见钟情?这个这个…啥?他是腹黑多金,权倾朝野的摄政王?利用咱聪慧的现代大脑,追!啥?摄政王爱的是她的母亲…秦子曰,爱情有如西天取经,路途漫长,妖魔甚多,但终会修成正果。简洁版简介:一个活泼浪漫的小女娃爱上有权有势的黄金单身汉并用尽手段追求真爱的YY故事。一个有权有势的黄金单身汉在不断抗拒不断纠结矛盾的过程中无意识成就了一个女娃扬名盛世的传奇。女娃和单身汉在进攻与防守,失陷与抵制失陷,心动与抵制心动中以角色互换游戏为基础的长期拉锯大战。秦子很负责地说,文非小白,女主有个变强的过程。-----精彩片段一-----云静烨面上依旧是一片冷意,他指了指地上的那包金子,“这就是你所谓的喜欢?为了找个人,随便挥霍上千个平民一生的吃穿用度,本王告诉你,你的那点喜欢,连一个铜板都不值!”长乐一边抹着眼泪,一边对着在场的人一字一顿地道,“我徐长乐宣布,这个男人是我的,他云静烨是我徐长乐的男人!”----精彩片段二-----“云静烨,如果你是那个王子,你会拿着一只水晶鞋于茫茫人海中,寻找灰姑娘吗?”长乐娇柔地声音小心翼翼地响起。云静烨看着外面的天色,知道时辰不早了,随口答道,“这得花费多少人力物力财力啊,再说,普天之下,脚的尺寸相同的女子又有多少?”----精彩片段三-----三年的军旅生涯,让云静烨身上多了几分豪迈之气,融融细月竟也能给他添上几缕沧桑之感,“长乐,我的年纪足以做你的父亲。”那不像是拒绝,更像是一种感慨。“云静烨,我的年纪足以做你的女人!”长乐踮起脚尖贴上他的唇,义无反顾地埋入他的怀中。※※※※推荐秦子新文※※※※《唱罢凰朝》※※※※推荐朋友的文※※※※《二嫁》【痞子龙】《-养女成妃-》【风言染】《吾乃,当家鸨母》【熊丫头】《重生之王牌女友》【蝶雨蓝梦】
  • 书生寒

    书生寒

    朦胧少女痴心与寒门书生一朝已白头只在此山中,云深不知处
  • 篮尊

    篮尊

    当篮球成为世界第一运动,当美国不再一家独大这个世界的篮球界会变成什么样子,群雄争霸,从高中赛到职业赛,每一个阶级的赛事都会引发各种关注,本书的主人公孟晓豪,从万人瞩目到堕落到强者回归,是时候表演真正的技术了!
  • 天道作死系统

    天道作死系统

    作死系统?王朝:“我不是那种人!”跑到祖星狱中打晕了九品的看守者,还点燃了炸药。丧尸围城的雪国中,王朝与格斗者、主宰者、九头蛇等怪物厮杀在一起。跑到奥丁的神国去偷冈格尼尔,还拔掉了世界树导致神国崩溃。在祖星的剑仙居中得到了对方不知道的传承至宝。好友:“你能不能安分点,不搞事情?”“事情,都不是我挑起的!”王朝指了指身后戟文明的追杀者。书友群:757551369(可以来聊天啊)
  • 贴身丫鬟升职记

    贴身丫鬟升职记

    山贼世家的关柳柳被娘亲送到苏州第一大户唐家做丫鬟,没想到只用了一个月的时间,就从面瘫大小姐的贴身小丫鬟变成了唐夫人钦点的儿媳妇!这升职的速度也太快啦!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 招阴人

    招阴人

    本想上山捉点野蝎子卖钱,谁知道却误踩了别人的坟头......
  • 万古人皇

    万古人皇

    手握神碑问星辰,三界独有我一人!洪荒末代人族最后一位人皇唐一天,为了返回地球毅然开天离去,却在穿越空间时遭到洪荒神碑镇杀,意外重生到了十万年后。这一世,为了重回巅峰,为了再次返回地球,手握神碑闯青云,战九州,上天界,下九幽,再登三界至尊!
  • 梦幻1984

    梦幻1984

    重生到了1984年,杨宇将会如何开启新的人生?新书《恶魔宿主》,已经发表,求支持。书友群:731352635