Page:Works of John C. Calhoun, v1.djvu/100

 the great and growing influence of public opinion, and the new and imposing form which popular government has assumed with us.

These have already effected great changes, and will probably effect still greater — adverse to the monarchical form; but, as yet, these changes have tended rather to the absolute, than to the constitutional form of popular government — for reasons which have been explained. If this tendency should continue permanently in the same direction, the monarchical form must still retain its advantages, and continue to be the most prevalent. Should this be the case, the alternative will be between monarchy and popular government, in the form of the numerical majority — or absolute democracy; which, as has been shown, is not only the most fugitive of all he forms, but has the strongest tendency of all others to the monarchical. If, on the contrary, this tendency, or the changes referred to, should incline to the constitutional form of popular government — and a proper organism come to be regarded as not less indispensable than the right of suffrage to the establishment of such governments — in such case, it is not probable that, in the progress of events, the monarchical will cease to be he prevalent form of government. Whether they will take this direction, at east for a long time, will depend on the success of our government — and a correct understanding of the principles on which it is constructed.

To comprehend more fully the force and bearing of public opinion, and to form a just estimate of