1 8 An Inquiry into the Principles of Taxation, 



houfe of commons, relative to the Middlefex elec- 

 tion ; and the confequent illegality of an impofi- 

 , tion, levied on a county in which the people 

 were not duly reprefented. His condu6b, on this 

 occafion, was influenced by no fordid motives, 

 and proceeded folely from a patriotic zeal to fecure 

 the rights of eledion. Yet a jury of Middlefex men 

 gave a verdift againft him, without fcruple or hefita- 

 tion. And their decifion was reafonable and proper, 

 becaufe the bonds of the ftate are not to be ralhly 

 loofened by every temporary error or mifconduft 

 of ftatefmen. Candid allowances will and ought 

 to be made for the pafTions, prejudices, and im- 

 perfeftions incident to our governors, provided 

 their general conduft evinces wifdom and redlitude. 

 Indeed there is fo much veneration for power, fo 

 great a fear of prefent fuffering, and fuch habitual 

 regard to the forms of civil jurifdiftion in the bulk 

 of the people, that maxims of palTive obedience are 

 not neceflary to their fubjeftion ; whilft they are 

 highly injurious to their rulers; of which the hiftory 

 of the Stuarts affords the fuUeft evidence, (d) For 

 tlie temptations to abufe power are, at all times, 

 greater than thofe of oppofition to it ; and the 

 abule is attended with more permanent evils to 

 fociety. An equitable and well eftablifhed legifla- 

 ture can, therefore, be under no necefllty of in- 

 flifting heavy penalties on breaches of the laws of 



revenue : 



