An Inquiry into the Principles of Taxation. 1 3 



muft tend to diminifh their due weight in the fcale 

 of government, to transfer the peculiar funftions 

 with which they are invefted to the peers, or to 

 the throne, (e) 



Of the FORMS prefcribed in pafling a money 

 bill, the moft effential to its moral validity, be- 

 caufe moft interefting to the liberty of the fubjeft, 

 is, that it Ihould originate folely in the houfe of 

 commons. For the lords, being a permanent, 

 hereditary body, created at pleafure by the king, 

 are fuppofed to be more liable to be influenced by 

 the crown; and, when once influenced, to conti- 

 nue fo, than the commons, who are freely eleded, 

 and only for a limited time, by the people * This 

 privilege forms the great conftitutional check on 

 the executive branch of adminiftration, and every 

 good citizen fhould watch over it with unremitting 

 and jealous attention; extending his diligent and pa- 

 triotic obfervation even to turnpikes, parifh-rates, 

 and impofts coUeded, not for the exigencies of 

 government alone, but for private and local 

 benefit. 



To APPORTION the taxes, with all pofTible im- 

 partiality, is effential to their having the full 

 force of moral obligation. Yet this is the moft 

 arduous office of the financier ; and, when a 

 kingdom is under the preffure of accumulated 



* Blackftone. 



C 4 tJebts, 



