Page:Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1st ed, 1833, vol II).djvu/71

 CH. IX.] right, would enlist all the feelings, and interests, and opinions of every state against any substantial change in its own institutions. A great embarrassment would be thus thrown in the way of the adoption of the constitution itself, which perhaps would be thus put at hazard, upon the mere ground of theoretical propriety.

§ 584. Besides; it might be urged, that it is far from being clear, upon reasoning or experience, that uniformity in the composition of a representative body is either desirable or expedient, founded in sounder policy, or more promotive of the general good, than a mixed system, embracing, and representing, and combining distinct interests, classes, and opinions. In England the house of commons, as a representative body, is founded upon no uniform principle, either of numbers, or classes, or