Principles of Government Volume 1; Or, Meditations in Exile (Paperback)

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.1856 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER V. ON THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE. I Have endeavoured to prove that in those countries, in which there exists a strong predilection in favour of monarchical or aristocratical institutions, it is not expedient, in a fanatical research after imaginary and unattainable perfection, to overthrow altogether those institutions; but that efforts should be made so to combine, restrain, and apply the powers which belong severally to monarchy and aristocracy, as that they shall be made instrumental to the welfare of the community. This reasoning is, however, founded upon an assumption that such powers are to be exercised in concurrence with, if not in subordination to, those which properly belong to the people at large. All governments ought to be constituted with a view to the benefit, not of the few, but of the many--not of the rulers, but of the ruled--not of the monarch, nor of the aristocracy, but of the whole community. This is a fundamental principle which none will now venture to contest; and since experience shows that those who possess power are generally disposed to misuse it, unless curbed by counteracting influences, it is essential to the welfare of a nation that the democracy should exercise a direct influence over the legislature. As personal participation in legislative proceedings cannot, except in very small communities, be enjoyed by every individual in the state, it becomes necessary to resort to representation, as a means of giving effect to the opinions and wishes of the people. This is accomplished by dividing the country into electoral districts, and by giving to the inhabitants of each district the right to elect one or more persons to represent them in the legislature. The employment of this system of representation is the princ...