With you the
elective Assembly is the sovereign, and the sole sovereign; all the
members are therefore integral parts of this sole sovereignty. But
with us it is totally different. With us the representative, separated
from the other parts, can have no action and no existence. The
government is the point of reference of the several members and
districts of our representation. This is the center of our unity. This
government of reference is a trustee for the whole, and not for the
parts. So is the other branch of our public council, I mean the
House of Lords. With us the king and the lords are several and joint
securities for the equality of each district, each province, each
city. When did you hear in Great Britain of any province suffering
from the inequality of its representation, what district from having
no representation at all? Not only our monarchy and our peerage secure
the equality on which our unity depends, but it is the spirit of the
House of Commons itself. The very inequality of representation,
which is so foolishly complained of, is perhaps the very thing which
prevents us from thinking or acting as members for districts. Cornwall
elects as many members as all Scotland. But is Cornwall better taken
care of than Scotland? Few trouble their heads about any of your
bases, out of some giddy clubs. Most of those who wish for any change,
upon any plausible grounds, desire it on different ideas.
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