51 



The concession is due to public opinion ; for 

 that opinion is founded in justice. Whilst the 

 comforts, habitual, though perhaps in great part 

 artificial, of every one whose resources are in 

 the produce of the land, must suffer large 

 abridgment ; whilst, in every family so situated, 

 sacrifices and privations must be experienced 

 and submitted to; it would indeed be incompa- 

 tible with any rule of right, that the servants of 

 the nation should successfully plead exemption 

 from their common lot ; and it would be no less 

 unbecoming and offensive if political influence 

 could be made effectual to the maintenance of 

 such an exemption. 



With many of those who qualify themselves 

 for the discharge of arduous public duties, in 

 the cabinet, at the council-board, and in the 

 public offices, it is not chimerical to suppose, 

 that patriotism is the great actuating principle. 

 Others are, no doubt, influenced by an ambition 

 of distinction in the service of the State, . from 

 which, whether it be absolutely laudable in it- 

 self or not, the State derives benefit ; and al- 

 though some may principally regard the pecu- 

 niary reward of their labours, the country never 

 ought to forget the maxim, that the labourer, of 

 the highest class as well as of the lowest, is 

 worthy of his hire. * 



E2 



