a — 260 p^Uament. Corn bill.- Feb. i 5/ 



Spects. To admit of the smallest dispensing power ia 

 judges, is to institute a set of legislators, which the con- 

 stitution does not allow, whose laws are not promulgated, and. 

 which must be productive of the very worst consequences. 



' ILvery lover of freedom will therefore guard against this in- 

 let to opprefsion; but it often makes its appearance in such 

 an amiable form, by moderating the severity of harfh laws, 

 as to escape the censure of the people. Artful men have, 

 therefore, often employed it imperceptibly, to extend the 

 bounds of arbitrary power. No engine of despotism, in- 

 'deed, has been adopted so often, or so su,ccefsfully, in this- 

 country, particularly in regard to revenue laws j nor has 

 any thing been productive of such grievous calamities to 

 the people ; though its approaches have been so well dis- 

 guised, as never to have been much taken notice of by 

 them. It has been long an establifhed system in Britain, 

 to make the revenue laws so severe, as that it is impof- 

 sible they can be strictly enforced. The consequence is, 

 that officers, in the discharge of their duty, and judges, in 

 their official capacity, think themselves often, from justice 



• and humanity, authorised to make an arbitrary mitigation.- 

 Uut cruel is the kindnefs thus obtained I — Men, trusting 

 to this mitigation, are tempted to transgrefs the law often- 

 er than they would do,— and having once begun to do so, 

 they know not where to stop. The revenue is thus great- 

 ly dim'niffied, fraud and chicanery is encouraged, and ho- 

 nest integrity in businefs is reprefsed. Room too is given 

 for the pafsions of revenue officers, and of judges, to in- 

 fluence their conduct j those who have disobliged the one, 

 or incurred the ill-will of the other, are chastised accor- 

 ding to the utmost severity of law j while others, in the 

 same circumstances, who are favourites, are allowed to 

 escape with impunity. Thus is the fortune and prosperi- 

 ty of any man at the mercy of others, and In this manner 

 have very many honest men been ruined, while others 

 have been enriched. 



In this manner room is given for Individual opprefsion 

 in every part of the country. Nor is this all : If the mi- 

 nister ffiould take a particular prejudice against the ma- 

 nufacturers of one part of the country, and wifli to che- 

 yilh thos? of another, in preference to them, he has oiil}^ 



