Page:Inquiry into the Principles and Policy of the Government of the United States.djvu/122

112 In the last quotation, Mr. Adams recommends his nohle, distinct or permanent Senate, "as guardians of property against levellers;" and in a previous quotation he observes, that " whenever the people have had any share in the executive, or more than one third part of the legislative, they have always abused it, and rendered property insecure;"—Thus excluding the people from any share in the executive, and any influence over the Senate, (althongh the king and the nobility are, as he says, their representatives,) as the only means of protecting property or checking levellers.

The love of property possesses almost an unbounded influence over the human mind. It is therefore an engine to which avarice and ambition will forever resort to effect their purposes; and every institution designed to make the mass of a nation poorer by enriching itself, will invariably avow a contrary intention, for the purpose of inducing the nation to fall into the snare. This is sometimes baited, with a pretence, that the people will be abundantly reimbursed in heaven, for the money drawn from them to enrich a hierarchy; at others, with the delusion, that they are reimbursed l)r the wealth drawn from them to enrich paper corporations, by an enhanced price for their labour; even for such products as are priced by a foreign demand.

The fear of losing property, is as strong as the hope of obtaining it. For this reason, the grossest abuses artfully ally themselves with real and honest property; and endeavour to excite its apprehension, when attempts are made to correct them, by exclaiming against the invasion of property and against levelism, and by deceiving the publick with fraudulent epithets.

These, we shall endeavour to prove, are precisely the grounds taken by Mr. Adams, when he boldly charges all nations, having any share in their own government beyond a third part of the legislative power, with "rendering property insecure;" when he proposes a noble senate as "guardians of property;" and when he endeavours to draw upon those who approve of extending the power of the