Page:Rose 1810 Observations respecting the public expenditure and the influence of the Crown.djvu/84

 meaures, is one of thoe alutary counterpoies which our contitution affords againt the weight of the Executive Power. The Oppoition in Britain is a ort of public body, which, in the practice at leat of our government, is perfectly known and etablihed. The province of this ex-official body, when it acts in a manner alutary to the tate, is to watch with jealouy over the conduct of adminitration; to correct the abues, and to reit the corruptions of its power; to retrain whatever may be exceive, to moderate what may be inconiderate, and to upply what may be defective in its meaures."

Such, I agree with that author, are the iegitimate and repectable functions of Oppoition, conidered as a practical branch of the contitution of Great Britain: uch powers, and uch jealouy, it is hoped they will always exercie and entertain.

The mot degrading corruption of a tateman, or his friends, is indeed, by the influence of money; but public men may be corrupted by the love of power, as well as by lut of gain; may be bribed by means of their pride, their obtinacy, or their reent