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>bligatory, as signifying those functions which & 

 Government cannot neglect without sacrificing 

 the interests of the State or of the people; and 

 expedient, as signifying those which may be neglected 

 without fear of these results, but from the perform- 

 ance of which much, or the greatest, good, may be 

 anticipated. But here arises a difficulty which 

 sets both schools at issue, and regarding which 

 few of the disciples of either can agree amongst 

 themselves viz., which are the obligatory, and which 

 the expedient ? Volumes have been written, are 

 daily being written on this subject : but none of the 

 arguments adduced from the ' abstract principle ' 

 point, can possibly carry anything convincing with 

 them, for the very simple reason here dwelt on, 

 that the subject cannot be separated from social 

 considerations. The fundamental principles of both 

 schools may be productive of very happy results, 

 if rightly applied ; and if misapplied of quite the 

 reverse. Indeed, there can be no comparison 

 between the two doctrines, for each properly 

 contemplates an entirely different order of things. 

 The one pre-supposes a state of society in 

 which the people are not sufficiently enlightened 

 to manage their own affairs; while to admit the 

 truth of the other, it is absolutely necessary to 

 assume an amount of education, intelligence, and 

 many other qualifications on the part of the 

 people, that will warrant the belief, that they are 



