t792« o« the constitution, 159 



first magistrate could be held by any one man ; and 

 provided this was effeccually done they seemed to 

 think that all was well. They were not aware that 

 while they thus reprefsed the insolence of one man, 

 they conferred that power on thousands of others, 

 ■who would be much lefs scrupulous in exercising, 

 and with more difficulty cherked in abusing it. 

 While they fhut the door against one abuse, they 

 opened up a source of corruption that was insatiable. 

 Virtue, in those who there aimed at power, was, of 

 all qualities, that which was the most unsuccefsful. 

 Frugality and public economy were in him the worst 

 of crimes ; and he who could squander the public 

 money with the most lavifh profusion in feasts, en- 

 tertainments, and fhows, was the person who was 

 deemed the most capable of conducting public aifairs. 

 In this way the body of the peopk became corrupt- 

 ed, — their leaders abandoned in principle, — and their 

 political existence of course came quickly to an end- 

 It was reserved for modern times, warned by the 

 unfortunate fate of these ill judging slates, to devise 

 a political system by which the power of the first 

 magistrate fliould be so respectable as to be able to 

 curb disorders in the state, though at the same time 

 so limited as to be unable to opprefs the weakest in- 

 dividual. It is that system which the " friends of 

 the people" wilh to defend ; and it is to guard against 

 corruptions that threaten to sap the foundations of 

 it which has induced them to afsociate together at 

 present, and to step forward, as the true vindicators 

 of freedom in our happy constitution. Where we 

 adhere to these principles, who will deny that we 



