On Party-Prejudice> 19 
store order and tranquillity. Had it not been for 
party-prejudice, there can be little doubt, but such 
regulations of the agrarian law would have taken 
place, as to have raised to a due degree the demo- 
cratical influence. By these means, the preponde- 
rating scale of patrician power would have been 
properly balanced, and the. constitution brought 
back to those irs principles, which had given it 
stability and splendour. The Gracchi then, in- 
stead of meriting the appellation of factious and 
ambitious demagogues, would have deserved the 
glorious title of defenders of the liberties of their 
country. It is the remark of Plutarch: “ With 
such citizens as the Gracchi, Marius, Cinna, dc. it 
was difficult to preserve a republic; but with such 
as Cesar or Pompey impossible.” This observa 
tion will not apply to the most flourishing periods of 
the perfection and republican grandeur of the Ro- 
man commonwealth. The liberties of a people un- 
‘der such circumstances, are more in danger from the 
party-zeal and ambition of a Tiberius Gracchus, 
than from the splendid atchievements and artful ad- 
dress of a Cesar. For, in all mixed’ governments, 
while the people possess sufficient patriotism, to be 
more anxious in preserving the fundamental princi- 
ples of the constitution, than attending to the nar- 
row and selfish views of party, they will reject bribes. 
with indignation; look upon victories with jealousy ; 
and carefully.watch over the conduct of an aspirs 
