INHABITANTS CONSULTED IN POLITICAL MATTERS. 321 



to nobility. But whatever peculiarities may exist in Britain, 

 experience in America has demonstrated that the powers of 

 human intellect do not, in any degree, depend on hereditary 

 title, texture of garment, or weight of purse ; and that all 

 matters connected with the domestic policy of a state, may 

 be made comprehensible, and intrusted to its inhabitants. 

 The intricacy of legislation has long been a favourite theme 

 with the few who rule the many. But whatever may be the 

 state of enlightenment regarding legislation, the people of 

 every civilized country must be as competent to understand it 

 as their rulers are, both parties having the same common 

 sense, and against the dictates of which law-making should 

 not even be attempted. Whatever is clearly understood by 

 men in power, may be made manifest to the people, and safely 

 left to their decision ; and when such men wish to adopt mea 

 sures without seeing their way, the people ought also to be 

 consulted, both with a view of obtaining instruction and less 

 ening the responsibility and odium of failure. These remarks 

 are borne out by the proceedings of the state of New York 

 regarding the salt question. 



Nobility and mobility, or by whatever names the aristocracy 

 and people can be distinguished, may each have their advo 

 cates ; but the propriety of placing political power in either, 

 must be decided by the effects produced. In measures con 

 nected with public interest, the state of New York is not sur 

 passed, andperhaps not equalled, by any district on earth, and all 

 of them originated from, and exist by, the power and consent 

 of the people. How different is the state of things in Bri 

 tain, where the people have hitherto had almost no voice in 

 political matters. If the legislation of Britain was to be re 

 gulated by collecting the opinions of the people by ballot, 

 many important changes would soon take place. There is, how 

 ever, much difference between the people of America and those 

 of Britain. In the latter, a considerable portion of the popu 

 lation has been so debased by the effects of aristocracy, that 

 they are ill qualified for discharging political duties. This is 

 not, however, a just reason for withholding rights from any 

 portion of the community entitled to them ; and should excess 

 arise amongst the people in obtaining or exercising their rights, 



