ZO 
vote. This fecures the requifite degree 
of information. All other qualifications 
are abfurd and unjuft; and, befides, are 
ufually defended on the ground of their 
tendins to fecure an inftructed conftitu- 
ency. Let a thoufand readers choofe one 
zuthor-reprefentative. . 
Let there be no convocation of the 
electors ; but each perfon fend his vote in 
writing. Let there be no convocation of 
the elected ; but each member of parlia- 
ment be paid for fraying at home all the 
year round. 
Let the minifiry, the members of the 
directory, the college of kings, or what- 
_ ever be the nametby which the officers of 
executive power are called, be appointed 
yearly, by the written votes of the houfe; 
each member tranimitting the name of 
his candidate by poft to the mayor of the 
metropolis; and let the minifters {o eleGt- 
ed alone have thé privilege of refiding out 
ef the diftrict they reprefent, and of 
éwelling in the eapital. . ‘ 
When a law is to be propofed, let the 
words of it and the reafons for adopting 
?t be printed by the propofer, and tranf- 
mitted to his fellow-reprefentatives. Let 
the difcufflion take place in print: the 
amendments be moved in writing: let 
pamphlet argue with pamphlet, and cir- 
eular reply to circular; and, aiter a pro- 
per lapfe of time, let written votes for or 
, againit a law (to be collected and pub. 
Hifhed name by name by the executive 
powers) enact or annul it. . 
All the paffions, tendencies, and opi- 
nions of men, being much ftrengthened by 
prefent fympathy, crouds are apter to be 
rath, apter to be panic-ftruck, apter to 
-punith intolerantiy and to reward extrava- 
gantiy,than imaller bodies or ieparate men. 
From the aétion of this law of nature re- 
fult chiefly the dangers of democracy. 
By the foregoing plan they are eluded. 
In this way a factious zeal, aclub-ipirit, 
2 herding in parties for promiicuous pur- 
pofes, could never be generated. To 
have voted on one occaficn with a man of. 
eloquence, would not operate as a tie to 
facrifice a character for judgment on ano- 
ther. .To divide in behalt of reafon, of 
truth, of juftice, not of a minifter or a 
monarch, would be the object of pride 
,and of ambition. Thus would every de- 
cifion be prepared by general inftruétion ; 
be conformavle to national welfare; be 
worthy the record of hiftery. Thus 
would be accomplithed, that certain leig- 
niorage of motives, permanent and uni- 
verfal, over thofe local and tranfient im- 
preffions which haye milled the popular 
Plan of a Conftitution. 
1 [ Aug, 
attroopments of lawgivers in Athens and 
in Parts, ‘Thus would be realized, that 
{way of imperturbable wifdom, by the 
organ of her chofen priefts, that philofo- 
phocracy, the live-long hope of the fage, 
and ftill the purfuit of the philanthropift. 
It. Let the nation be divided into two 
grand divifions, a northern and a fouth- 
ern; and Jet each divifion confit of 52 
fubdivifions or fhires, each naming three 
reprefentatives. 
Let the parliament contain 468 feats, 
and the members fit for 18 months. There 
will then be 312 to be chofen yearly, or 
fix weekly. 
Every week let one fhire in each divi- 
fion be convened to name its reprefenta- 
tives, and let them choofe in regular 
fucceffion. 
By thefe means no minifter, or party, 
can rely on the duration of its influence: 
an influx of fix members is continually 
pouring in to incline the balance more 
and more toward the public opinion. 
Meafures then muft always gradually, 
and never fuddenly, conform to it. No 
genera! elef&tion can occur to overfet x 
fyftem of procedure; no fingle week 
leaves any {yftem without an addition or 
diminution of fan&tion, Whatever opi- 
nions are rifing among the people will 
{peedily pierce into the legiflature: the 
declared with of any part of the kingdom 
may immediately prompt the electing 
part to an efficient attention. The pro- 
ceis of nature is imitated, which inferts 
one by one, the buds of futurity upon the 
ftem-of prefent time. If the flave-trade 
be agitated to-day, a CLARKSON, 2 
Cooper, are fent to add their ftotk of 
zeal and information to that of parlia- 
ment. if the teft-laws come-forward the 
enfuing week, a Heywoop, a Hos- 
HOUSE, are employed to propagate in the 
fenate the principles of toleration. If 
financial dangers become the topic of 
alarm, a MorGan, a LAUDERDALE are 
called forth to warn and to remedy. The 
inconvenience and ab{urdity of employ- 
ing the fame men one day to contrive a 
commercial intercourfe with France, and 
an other day to move an alien bill, be- 
comes needlefs. Whatever obje&ts are 
uppermoft, fecure their appropriate and 
adapted agents, and the laws fucceffively 
refulting from the will of the people will 
not be defrauded of the executive affit- 
ance of lazy prejudice, and thus rendered 
nugatory to focial improvement. ‘To 
will wifely may often be the attribute of 
the public mind: but to vanquifh diffi- 
culties of execution is the rare and ma 
avs 
