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.
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