1819 Aug. 25

Fallacies 3 Ch | | Cause and Obstacle Confounders

Considered in respect of their conduciveness to an end objects of any kind may be termed good or bad either with reference solely to the end, or with reference to and in comparison with one another, but still with reference to the end.

The English Constitution, in the opinion of Englishmen, with few if any exceptions, has been regarded as better with reference to the end in question than that of any other Government ever known, laying out of the question the recently established governments of the several American United States: in particular better than any one /other/ of the European Monarchies. Upon examination, upon the distinction made between causes on the one hand, and uninfluencing circumstances and obstacles on the other, this persuasion will /would/ it is believed be fully confirmed. receive full confirmation. But in proportion as these circumstances are distinguished by which it is rendered better superior and more conducive to the end than are the Constitutions of those several Monarchies in that same proportion will it be seen to be inferior as compared with that of any one of the United American States.

Ask the cause or reason what the Constitution of the English Government is better than that of any one of those Monarchies, the answer can be no other than this /to this question there can be but /can not be more than/ one answer/ - namely that in /under/ the English Constitution the great body of the people /the people/ have some share, while /whereas/ in those other Governments, the people either have no share at all or have not so good a share.