y, yet its forms, and the persons who administer it, all
originate from the people.

A popular origin cannot therefore be the characteristical distinction of
a popular representative. This belongs equally to all parts of
Government, and in all forms. The virtue, spirit, and essence of a House
of Commons consists in its being the express image of the feelings of the
nation. It was not instituted to be a control upon the people, as of
late it has been taught, by a doctrine of the most pernicious tendency.
It was designed as a control _for_ the people. Other institutions have
been formed for the purpose of checking popular excesses; and they are, I
apprehend, fully adequate to their object. If not, they ought to be made
so. The House of Commons, as it was never intended for the support of
peace and subordination, is miserably appointed for that service; having
no stronger weapon than its Mace, and no better officer than its Serjeant-
at-Arms, which it can command of its own proper authority. A vigilant
and jealous eye over executory and judicial magistracy; an anxious care
of public money, an openness, approaching towards facility, to public
complaint; these seem to be the true characteristics of a House of
Commons. But an addressing House of Commons, and a petitioning nation; a
House of Commons full of confidence, when the nation is plunged in
despair; in the utmost harmony with Ministers, whom the people regard
with the utmost abhorrence; who vote thanks, when the public opinion
calls upon them for impeachments; who are eager to grant, when the
general voice demands account; who, in all disputes between the people
and Administration, presume against the people; who punish their
disorder, but refuse even to inquire into the provocations to them; this
is an unnatural, a monstrous state of things in this constitution. Such
an Assembly may be a great, wise, awful senate; but it is not, to any
popular purpose, a House of Commons. This change from an immediate state
of procuration and delegation to a course of acting as from original
power, is the way in which all the popular magistracies in the world have
been perverted from their purposes. It is indeed their greatest and
sometimes their incurable corruption. For there is a material
distinction between that corruption by which particular points are
carried against reason (this is a thing which cannot be prevented by
human wisdom, and is of less consequence), and th