political. But, however important its present influence may be, or may hereafter become — or, however great and beneficial the changes to which it may ultimately lead, it can never counteract the tendency of the numerical majority to the abuse of power — nor supersede the necessity of the concurrent, as an essential element in the formation of constitutional governments. These it cannot effect for two reasons, either of which is conclusive.
The one is, that it cannot change that principle of our nature, which makes constitutions necessary to prevent government from abusing its powers — and government necessary to protect and perfect society.
Constituting, as this principle does, an essential part of our nature — no increase of knowledge and intelligence, no enlargement of our sympathetic feelings, no influence of education, or modification of the condition of society can change it. But so long as it shall continue to be an essential part of our nature, so long will government be necessary; and so long as this continues to be necessary, so long will constitutions, also, be necessary to counteract its tendency to the abuse of power — and so long must the concurrent majority remain an essential element in the formation of constitutions. The press may do much — by giving impulse to the progress of knowledge and intelligence, to aid the cause of education, and to bring about salutary changes in the condition of society. These, in turn, may do much to explode political errors — to teach how governments should be constructed in order to fulfill their ends; and by what means they can be
