Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/138

100 on the people; to grow their leader in warlike expedition; and to preide, after a ort, in their civil aemblies. The econd is, of uch men as have acquired large poeions, and conequently dependencies, or decend from ancetors who have left them great inheritances, together with an hereditary authority; thee, eaily uniting in opinions, and acting in concert, begin to enter upon meaures for ecuring their properties, which are bet upheld by preparing againt invaions from abroad, and maintaining peace at home: this commences a great council, or enate, for the weighty affairs of the nation. The lat diviion is, of the mas of the people, whoe part of power is great and indiputable, whenever they can unite, either collectively or by deputation, to exert it.

The true meaning of a balance of power is bet conceived by conidering what the nature of a balance is. It uppoes three things: firt, the part which is held, together with the hand that holds it; and then the two cales, with whatever is weighed therein. In a tate within itelf, the balance mut be held by a third hand, who is to deal the remaining power, with the utmot exactnes into the everal cales. The balance may be held by the weaket, who by his addres, removing from either cale, and adding his own, may keep the cales duly poied: when the balance is broken by mighty weights falling into either cale, the power will never continue long, in equal diviion, between the two remaining parties; but, till the balance is fixed anew, will run entirely into one. This is made to appear by the examples of the Decemviri in Rome, the Ephori in Sparta, the four hundred in Athens, the thirty in Athens, and the Dominatio Plebis in Carthage and Argos. In