date

1821. June 17. Codification Offer
1821. June 17.

Codification Offer

'.7/8/. Foreigner why

'.3. II. Intellectual aptitude 2. Knowledge

'.7/8/. Aptitude in all other respects equal, the hand of the draughtsman should be that of a foreigner rather than of a native.

Appropriate intellectual aptitude, appropriate active talent, appropriate moral aptitude - as in the case of any other political function, so in the case of this one in particular once more, under one or other of these denominations will every branch and every point of appropriate aptitude be found comprisable.

1. As to intellectual aptitude: under which head let appropriate knowledge, or, as the official phrase is, information, in addition to sound judgment, be comprehended. In the present case more particularly, it is this one of the three branches of appropriate aptitude that, to many an eye, will present a preferable claim to precedence: for how great soever may be the mischief produced by the utmost conceivable degree of moral aptitude, still it could not but be exceeded by that which might be the result of the utmost conceivable degree of conceivable intellectual aptitude, supposing the suggestions by presented /pursued/. But, in such a situation as that in question, the existence of the highest conceivable degree of intellectual magnitude is not in any the smallest degree probable:- whereas, in that same situation, the existence of the highest degree of moral inaptitude is, in every instance, but too probable.

Under this head, so far as concerns appropriate information, an objection to every foreign hand, considered in comparison with that of a native, presents itself to the very first glance. But, when compared with the reasons on the other side, presented by the consideration of moral aptitude, all other points of appropriate aptitude being supposed equal, the force of this objection will, it is believed, be found decidedly outweighed.

I. The deficiency not so great as it will be apt to appear. Of the circumstances on which the demand for legislation, and the nature of the course required to be taken by legislation depends, some are common to all countries, to all races of men, and all times: say, in a word universally applying: others are, in different countries, in the case of different races of men, and in different times more or less different: say exclusively applying.

In comparison
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