Page:Thoughts on civil liberty, on licentiousness and faction.djvu/78

, when Manners grew more relaxed, and Principles were weakened, the same Spirit of Adoption opened a Door for the Admission of Customs that were pernicious.

Thus the Admission of Change, which in the virtuous Ages led to the Greatness, in succeeding Times brought on the Destruction of the Republic.

The sagacious Romans soon found the Consequences of this Defect: They saw, that through a Want of original, preventive, and salutary Institutions, bad Manners were creeping insensibly on the State. Hence the Creation of the Censors had its Rise: An Office, which immediately took Cognizance of the Manners of the Citizens.

But this high Office was ineffectual in its End; because it had not Power universally to prevent, but only in Part to remedy the Evil. Hence, while particular and detected Offences only, could be punished by the Censor, the Hearts and Manners of the People were laid open to a general