I'jgi. on the comtitntion. 233 



selves of the temporary phrenzj of those who do, we 

 would have put off the proposition of our intended 

 reform to a distant day ? Those who think thus must 

 suppose us destitute of common sense indeed. 



It thus appears that those who, profiting by the abu- 

 ses of government, and therefore dreading any kind of 

 reform, knowing at the same time the upright prin-- 

 ciples of " the society of the friends of the people,", 

 have found no other mode of defence, so likely to suc- 

 ceed, as that of calumny and misrepresentation. 

 Duplicity is so natural to some people themselves, 

 that they could scarcely oppose even a faulty pro- 

 position with a candid opennefs of conduct ; but 

 where they see nothing they ca.wj'airly lay hold of, 

 in opposing a reasonable demand, there s;;em5 to be 

 a sort of excuse for them being driven to the very 

 objectionable mode of defence I now reprobate.^ 

 This, however, will not induce the respectable body, 

 of which I have the honour to be a member, to 

 adopt a similar conduct. We neither court popula-. 

 rity by giving our support to culpable doctrines, 

 which may be the favourites of the day ; nor decline 

 to probe with freedom the defects of a cgnstitution 

 ive venerate. Sensible that government is no long- 

 er of use than while it tends to preserve public tran- 

 quillity, to encourage industry, and to protect the 

 person and property of every individual alike from 

 the power of the king, of an aristocracy, or a mob, 

 we fhall as steadily oppose every innovation that 

 does not obviously tend to promote these objects, as 

 we fhall zealously promote the reform of every abuse 

 VOL. X. G G t 



