432 NATURAL AMD CIVIL 



a bill of rights to ascertain the just claims of ttie 

 people, a constitution to direct and restrain the 

 legislature, a code of laws to guide and direct 

 the executive authority, are matters of high im- 

 portance to any people ; and are justly esteem- 

 ed among the wisest productions, of ancient or 

 modern times. But no people ought to expect 

 that any thing of this nature will avail to secure, 

 or to perpetuate their liberties. Such things 

 are consequences, not the causes ; the eviden* 

 ces, not the origin of the liberties of the people. 

 They derive their whole authority and force, 

 from the public sentiment j and are of no fur- 

 ther avail to secure the liberties of the people, 

 than as they tend to express, to form, and to 

 preserve the public opinion. If this alters and 

 changes^ any bill of rights, any constitution or 

 form of government, and law, may easily be set 

 aside, be change.', or be made of none eftecti 

 For it will never be dangerous for the govern- 

 ment of any people, to make any alteration or 

 changeSj which the public opinion will either 

 allow, justify, or support. Nor ought any peo- 

 ple to expect, that their legislators or governors 

 will be able to preserve their liberties, for a long* 

 period of time. Any body of men Who enjoy 

 the powers and profits of public employments^ 

 ■will unavoidably wish to have those profits and 

 powers increased. The difficulties they will 

 mieet with in the execution of their office, the 

 unreasonable opposition that will be made by 

 many to their wisest and best measures, and the 

 constant attempts to displace them, by thbse 

 whose only aim and wish is to succeed them ; 

 *;uch tilings, joined witli a natural love of power 



