etermine without knowledge of the questions, and
their decisions are then of small authority. If they receive,
implicitly, the dictates of others, and blindly adopt the opinions of
those who have gained their favour and esteem, their applauses and
complaints are, with respect to themselves, empty sounds, which they
utter as the organs of their leaders. Nor are the desires of the people
gratified when their petitions are granted; nor their grievances
overlooked when their murmurs are neglected.

As it is no reproach to the people that they cannot be the proper judges
of the conduct of the government, so neither are they to be censured
when they complain of injuries not real, and tremble at the apprehension
of severities unintended. Unjust complaints, my lords, and unreasonable
apprehensions, are to be imputed to those who court their regard only to
deceive them, and exalt themselves to reputation by rescuing them from
grievances that were never felt, and averting dangers that were never
near.

He only who makes the happiness of the people his endeavour, loves them
with a true affection and a rational tenderness, and he certainly
consults their happiness who contributes to still all groundless
clamours, and appease all useless apprehensions, who employs his care,
not only to preserve their quiet and their liberty, but to secure them
from the fear of losing it, who not only promotes the means of
happiness, but enables them to enjoy it.

Thus, it appears, my lords, that it is possible to be a friend, at the
same time, to the people and the administration, and that no man can
more deserve their confidence and applause, than he that dissipates
their unreasonable terrours, and contributes to reconcile them to a good
government.

That most of the clamours against the present government arise from
calumnies and misrepresentations, is apparent from the sanction of the
senate, which has been given to all the measures that are charged as
crimes upon the administration.

That the army is supported by the consent of the senate, that the senate
has approved the convention, and that our taxes are all imposed and
continued by the senate, cannot be denied. What then is demanded by
those that censure the conduct of publick affairs, but that their
opinion should be considered as an overbalance to the wisdom of the
senate, that no man should be allowed to speak but as they dictate, nor
to vote but as they shall influence them by their