ABSTRACT
Great britain and Ireland compose the whole of the British Empire in Europe. Neither distance of situation, extent of country, or number of people, render the representation of the whole, in one legislative body, impracticable or inexpedient. The population of the two kingdoms does not exceed thirteen millions; and Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is at no greater distance from London than Edinburgh. The objection of distance is therefore trivial in the extreme. Nor is that of any inconvenience arising from the assembly of Representatives becoming too numerous by some addition, of greater force. Some have thought that the / head would be too large for the body, without considering that a pillar of a large size can bear a proportionate capital. The greatest councils of all free states are extremely numerous. And indeed a Senate, composed of a considerable number, is congenial to the nature of a free government, and agreeable to the feelings of a free people. Mankind naturally, and with justice, repose a larger share of confidence in the united abilities of a considerable number, than in the dark, unseen measures of the few. Every measure, that comes before the former, is sifted to the bottom, ere it pass into a law. Nor can the designs of ambition or sedition steal unperceived and unnoticed by the posts of so many centinels, whatever disguise they may assume. Corruption too finds it more difficult to practise her arts of seduction on the morals of a body of independent men, whose interests must be essentially interwoven with that of their constituents; whereas she can at pleasure apply herself with the powerful persuasives of titles and of wealth to glut the vanity, the ambition, or the avarice of the few. – Councils composed of but few, have ever therefore been the plan of monarchies as they grew towards despotism: while liberty ever has, and ever will, assign the guardianship of her sacred rights 298to the discernment, watchfulness, and integrity of numbers; only avoiding such a selection or such excess as might lead to the dangerous severity of aristocratic, or the tumultuous confusion of democratic states*.
