登陆注册
5231800000049

第49章 SPEECH ON REFORM OF REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE OF

On what grounds do we go to restore our Constitution to what it has been at some given period, or to reform and reconstruct it upon principles more conformable to a sound theory of government? A prescriptive government, such as ours, never was the work of any legislator, never was made upon any foregone theory. It seems to me a preposterous way of reasoning, and a perfect confusion of ideas, to take the theories, which learned and speculative men have made from that government, and then, supposing it made on these theories, which were made from it, to accuse the government as not corresponding with them. I do not vilify theory and speculation--no, because that would be to vilify reason itself. "Neque decipitur ratio, neque decipit unquam." No; whenever I speak against theory, I mean always a weak, erroneous, fallacious, unfounded, or imperfect theory; and one of the ways of discovering that it is a false theory is by comparing it with practice. This is the true touchstone of all theories which regard man and the affairs of men: Does it suit his nature in general?--does it suit his nature as modified by his habits?

The more frequently this affair is discussed, the stronger the case appears to the sense and the feelings of mankind. I have no more doubt than I entertain of my existence, that this very thing, which is stated as a horrible thing, is the means of the preservation of our Constitution whilst it lasts: of curing it of many of the disorders which, attending every species of institution, would attend the principle of an exact local representation, or a representation on the principle of numbers. If you reject personal representation, you are pushed upon expedience; and then what they wish us to do is, to prefer their speculations on that subject to the happy experience of this country of a growing liberty and a growing prosperity for five hundred years. Whatever respect I have for their talents, this, for one, I will not do. Then what is the standard of expedience? Expedience is that which is good for the community, and good for every individual in it. Now this expedience is the desideratum to be sought, either without the experience of means, or with that experience. If without, as in the case of the fabrication of a new commonwealth, I will hear the learned arguing what promises to be expedient; but if we are to judge of a commonwealth actually existing, the first thing I inquire is, What has been found expedient or inexpedient? And I will not take their promise rather than the performance of the Constitution.

But no; this was not the cause of the discontents. I went through most of the northern parts--the Yorkshire election was then raging; the year before, through most of the western counties--Bath, Bristol, Gloucester--not one word, either in the towns or country, on the subject of representation; much on the receipt tax, something on Mr. Fox's ambition; much greater apprehension of danger from thence than from want of representation. One would think that the ballast of the ship was shifted with us, and that our Constitution had the gunnel under water. But can you fairly and distinctly point out what one evil or grievance has happened, which you can refer to the representative not following the opinion of his constituents?

What one symptom do we find of this inequality? But it is not an arithmetical inequality with which we ought to trouble ourselves.

If there be a moral, a political equality, this is the desideratum in our Constitution, and in every Constitution in the world. Moral inequality is as between places and between classes. Now, I ask, what advantage do you find, that the places which abound in representation possess over others in which it is more scanty, in security for freedom, in security for justice, or in any one of those means of procuring temporal prosperity and eternal happiness, the ends for which society was formed? Are the local interests of Cornwall and Wiltshire, for instance--their roads, canals, their prisons, their police--better than Yorkshire, Warwickshire, or Staffordshire? Warwick has members; is Warwick or Stafford more opulent, happy, or free, than Newcastle or than Birmingham? Is Wiltshire the pampered favourite, whilst Yorkshire, like the child of the bondwoman, is turned out to the desert? This is like the unhappy persons who live, if they can be said to live, in the statical chair; who are ever feeling their pulse, and who do not judge of health by the aptitude of the body to perform its functions, but by their ideas of what ought to be the true balance between the several secretions. Is a committee of Cornwall, &c., thronged, and the others deserted? No. You have an equal representation, because you have men equally interested in the prosperity of the whole, who are involved in the general interest and the general sympathy; and perhaps these places, furnishing a superfluity of public agents and administrators (whether, in strictness, they are representatives or not, I do not mean to inquire, but they are agents and administrators), will stand clearer of local interests, passions, prejudices, and cabals than the others, and therefore preserve the balance of the parts, and with a more general view and a more steady hand than the rest.

In every political proposal we must not leave out of the question the political views and object of the proposer; and these we discover, not by what he says, but by the principles he lays down.

同类推荐
  • 慈湖诗传

    慈湖诗传

    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。
  • 慢法经

    慢法经

    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。
  • 普贤菩萨行愿赞

    普贤菩萨行愿赞

    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。
  • 寄卢载

    寄卢载

    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。
  • 今言

    今言

    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。
热门推荐
  • 彼岸流光

    彼岸流光

    她逃婚,却意外地来到了他身边,一次次阻挠,都不成问题
  • 爆笑穿越:纨绔女相师

    爆笑穿越:纨绔女相师

    她本是二十一世纪被誉为神偷界一枝花的苏九九,一觉醒来,却穿越到了临安国纨绔风流的丞相李漠然身上。御书房伴读的第一日,便与相看两不厌的邪恶太子杠上,从此……“太子、太子,丞相今日举办宴会,把太子您邀请来赏花的大臣,全部都给截去了……”某太子拿着茶杯的手微微一颤,而后淡定的说道:“无妨,随他去吧!”“太子、太子,丞相把您在春风楼包的花魁,给抢回府当小妾了……”某太子眼光微闪,压下了心中的火气,带着几分咬牙切齿的说道:“无妨,随他去吧!”“太子、太子,丞相在皇宫里,把林国夫人给打了……”某太子把手中的茶杯轻轻的往桌上一放,脸色平静的说道:“无妨,随他……什么,你说李断袖把姨母打了,那还不快前边带路……”且看二十一世纪绝色神偷如何化身为异界丞相,公子红妆,祸乱天下……
  • 中老年健康生活百科(现代生活知识百科)

    中老年健康生活百科(现代生活知识百科)

    中老年人生活问题的解决得好与坏,直接反映着一个国家和社会的福利、文明等各方面问题。仅仅认识到中老年人口的社会问题是远远不够的,只有通过科学、文明、健康的生活方式和行为方式,倡导科学先进、愉快健康的老年生活,才能真正实现生命的质与量的完美结合,让中老年人体会到生命的喜悦、生活的幸福;才能更好地安排中老年人自身的生活,使中老年人的晚年生活更有情趣、更加合理,使老年生活再次成为中老年人人生的黄金期,真正做到老有所为,安享晚年。
  • 杏林春暖马走日

    杏林春暖马走日

    没得靠山和背景的马走日在医院备受欺凌挤兑,美貌的女朋友劈腿后,奇遇得李淳风和袁天罡的《八卦图》真传,他医术变得精妙绝伦,凭借通天医术,霸道手腕,从此便左右逢源……
  • 最强极寒仙尊

    最强极寒仙尊

    一名普通的少年,在一次生死历练中,身体内偶然融入了一根寒冰骨。寒冰骨,可冰封一切,化作能量为己用。从此,他凭借寒冰骨,一路逆天修行,横扫各大圣地宗门。
  • 超神魔法师

    超神魔法师

    新书《金牌代练》起点首发,欢迎大家前来阅读。【2018最火热毒鸡汤小说】在剑与魔法的奇幻时代,天穹被黑暗笼罩,鲜血染红土壤,当宿命已早已注定,谁又将被狩猎……君子报仇,十年不晚,艾瑞报仇,从早到晚。这是一本披着奇幻外衣的扎心毒鸡汤小说。书友1群已建立。欢迎书友踊跃加入。QQ群:65706794
  • 王爷贼妻

    王爷贼妻

    白天她是一个很平凡的女生,夜里她是神偷家族的传人,只有她不想偷的,没有她偷不到的。平生第一次偷盗失误,居然被砸回到千古年代,偏不巧的还得装什么大家闺秀,更可恶的是要面对一个整日以欺负她为乐的恶魔。豆腐被吃光也就算了,然而这个恶魔还那么的喜怒无常,温柔的时候可以把你宠上天,残酷的时候比阎王还可怕。不过没关系,她可以来阴的,暗地里把他整个半死,看他还怎么嚣张。糟糕,斗了半天,这才知道对方的身份不简单,看来她这会死定了。为了自保,只好找个更加强大的靠山,然而此举似乎也不可行。“你的强大靠山在这——”某男拍拍自己的胸膛,阴冷的笑着。“我看你那里是刀山火海——”某女抽筋一笑,心底发毛,打算脚底抹油,走为上策。她走为上策,可是他却守为上策。为了逃跑,她把他的衣服偷个精光,这才破了他守为上策的计谋,却不知道有更大的陷阱等着她。
  • 姬无心

    姬无心

    文案一:五世的孤独,换来她一世的重生。姬无心,这个命运轨道曾发生错位的女子,重回属于她的世界后,她的人生和她的世界会发生怎样翻天覆地的变化?姬家的小公子,姬无心,从小就是一个异类。三月大时能听懂人言,十月大时就能开口说话。一岁能写字,两岁能诵文,三岁能作诗,四岁便开始当家理财。更令人惊异的是,他识人用人的本领和他本身拥有的才能一样出色。六岁时,他捡到了岳乘风,一个在山林与野兽为伍的冷俊少年。他象风一般敏捷快速,象石头一般的冷硬孤绝,从此,他成为忠心守护姬无心的一个影子。他救下了曲歌,一个精通音律的绝美少年。曲歌服侍其左右,成为他最贴心的侍从。路遇穷困潦倒,被人当作小偷的陆鸣霄,爱其才华,收在身边。最后陆鸣霄成为启元皇朝的开国丞相。进宫面圣,一番治国言论令皇帝大为惊叹,并与当时的太子容寄波结识。最后,他收服了天赋异禀、精通兵法的邬傲南。…只是世人有谁知,他不是他,而是她?本以为自己无心寡情的性子,她的人生同她的情感一样不会有多少起伏,却不料她于无心之间,使天下纷争四起,爱恨痴缠紧随她。是谁暖了她的心,是谁寒了她的心,是谁伤了她的心,又是谁填满了她的心?×文案二:不在乎将相王侯,也不管那万世千秋。只求在这红尘万丈中,灵魂不再孤独地漂游。以为看淡了爱恨情仇,以为不再为爱痴缠不休。却不料情路无涯常牵挂,贪嗔痴恋不由她!原本无心,却最多情。潇洒走天涯,却相思难放下。看我为爱起舞,笑游天下!本文前面有些慢热,但后面故事绝对精彩。×××××××××××新建一群,名为米粉。群号为119615077,感兴趣的朋友欢迎加入。申请时,以米虫任何一部小说书名或小说中的人名为敲门砖,均可加入。×××××××××××推荐米虫其他文:《绝色天才小老公》(现代文完结)《重生古代钓美男》(穿越文完结)《花痴憨凤戏江湖》(完结番外续写中)***********×××××××××推荐优秀作品:《闲妻当家》西楼小楠《扶摇》天下归元《逃妾难追》懒惰的馒头《丑妃无敌》夜初《赖上契约妻》竹玉儿《痞夫宠妻》龙御海《女主天下》夏日情怀
  • 假如给我三天光明(语文新课标课外读物)

    假如给我三天光明(语文新课标课外读物)

    现代中、小学生不能只局限于校园和课本,应该广开视野,广长见识,广泛了解博大的世界和社会,不断增加丰富的现代社会知识和世界信息,才有所精神准备,才能迅速地长大,将来才能够自由地翱翔于世界蓝天。否则,我们将永远是妈妈怀抱中的乖宝宝,将永远是温室里面的豆芽菜,那么,我们将怎样走向社会、走向世界呢?
  • 总裁心尖宠:宝贝,别想逃

    总裁心尖宠:宝贝,别想逃

    “把孩子生下来,我们从此互不干扰。”顾亦燃之所以答应傅司允,是因为傅司允坚信不爱她。却没想到的是,三年后,别说是互不干扰,这一大一小抱着她的腿不让她走是怎么回事?不让她走,她难道还不会逃吗?可是不管她逃到哪里去,第二天早上开门的时候都会看见一大一小站在门外可怜兮兮的看着自己:“老婆(妈妈),我们回家吧!”