FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35  
36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   >>   >|  
gencies. But since we have turn'd the Stream, and been so free of Revenues for Life, arising from _Impositions_ and _Taxes_, we have given Occasion to our Princes to dispose of their _Crown-Lands_; and depend for Maintenance of their Families on such a Sort of Income, as is thought unjust and ungodly in most Parts of the World, but in _Christendom_: for many of the arbitrary _Eastern_ Monarchs think so, and will not eat the Produce of such a Revenue. Now since Matters are brought to this pass, 'tis plain that our Princes must subsist suitable to their high State and Condition, in the best manner we are able to provide for them. And whilst the _Calling_ and _Duration_ of Parliaments was _precarious_, it might indeed be an _Act of Imprudence_, tho not of _Injustice_, for any _one Parliament_ to settle such a Sort of _Revenue_ for Life on the Prince: But at present, when all the World knows the _utmost Extent_ of a Parliament's _possible_ Duration, it seems disagreeable to Reason, and an Encroachment upon the Right of _succeeding_ Parliaments (for the future) for any _one Parliament_ to do that which _another_ cannot undo, or has not Power to do in its turn. An Old _Whig_ is for chusing such Sort of _Representatives_ to serve in Parliament, as have _Estates_ in the Kingdom; and those not fleeting ones, which may be sent beyond Sea by Bills of Exchange by every Pacquet-Boat, but fix'd and permanent. To which end, every Merchant, Banker, or other money'd Man, who is ambitious of serving his Country as a _Senator_, shou'd have also a competent, visible _Land Estate_, as a Pledge to his _Electors_ that he intends to abide by them, and has the same Interest with theirs in the publick Taxes, Gains and Losses. I have heard and weigh'd the Arguments of those who, in Opposition to this, urged the Unfitness of such, whose Lands were engaged in Debts and Mortgages, to serve in Parliament, in comparison with the _mony'd Man_ who had no _Land:_ But those Arguments never convinced me. No Man can be a sincere Lover of Liberty, that is not for increasing and communicating that Blessing to all People; and therefore the giving or restoring it not only to our Brethren of _Scotland_ and _Ireland_, but even to _France_ it self (were it in our Power) is one of the principal Articles of _Whiggism_. The Ease and Advantage which wou'd be gain'd by _uniting_ our own Three Kingdoms upon equal Terms (for upon unequal it wou'd be no _Union_) is so v
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35  
36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Parliament
 

Parliaments

 

Duration

 
Arguments
 

Revenue

 
Princes
 

publick

 

Interest

 

Merchant

 

Losses


permanent

 
Pacquet
 

intends

 

ambitious

 

Senator

 

Country

 

competent

 

visible

 

Electors

 
serving

Pledge

 

Estate

 
Banker
 

convinced

 

France

 

principal

 

Articles

 
Whiggism
 

Ireland

 
restoring

Brethren

 

Scotland

 

unequal

 

Kingdoms

 
Advantage
 

uniting

 

giving

 
Mortgages
 

comparison

 

engaged


Opposition

 
Unfitness
 

Exchange

 

increasing

 

communicating

 

Blessing

 

People

 

Liberty

 

sincere

 

future