Andletusnotsleepinthedelusionthatweshallderiveallneedfulsecurityfromourown\"intelligenceandvirtue.\"Thepeoplemay,indeed,preservetheirlibertiesforever,iftheywilltakecaretobealwaysvirtuous,alwayswise,andalwaysvigilant.Andtheywillbeequallysecure,iftheycanassurethemselvesthattherulerstheymayselectwillneverabusetheirtrust,butwillalwaysunderstandandalwayspursuethetrueinterestsofthepeople.But,unhappily,therearenosuchpeopleandnosuchrulers.
Agovernmentmustbeimperfect,indeed,ifitrequiresuchadegreeofvirtueinthepeopleasrendersallgovernmentunnecessary.Governmentisfounded,notinthevirtues,butinthevicesofmankind;notintheirknowledgeandwisdom,butintheirignoranceandfolly.Itsobjectistoprotecttheweak,torestraintheviolent,topunishthevicious,andtocompelalltotheperformanceofthedutywhichmanowestomaninasocialstate.Itisnotaself-actingmachine,whichwillgoonandperformitsworkwithouthumanagency;itcannotbeseparatedfromthehumanbeingswhofillitsplaces,setinmotion,andregulateanddirectitsoperations.
Solongastheseareliabletoerrinjudgment,ortofailinvirtue,solongwillgovernmentbeliabletorunintoabuses.Untilallmenshallbecomesoperfectasnottorequiretoberuled,allgovernmentsprofessingtobefreewillrequiretobewatched,guarded,checkedandcontrolled.
Todothiseffectuallyrequiresmorethanwegenerallyfindofpublicvirtueandpublicintelligence.Agreatmajorityofmankindaremuchmoresensibletotheirintereststhantotheirrights.Wheneverthepeoplecanbepersuadedthatitistheirgreatestinteresttomaintaintheirrights,then,andthenonly,willfreegovernmentbesafefromabuses.
LookingatourownFederalGovernment,apartfromtheStates,andregardingit,asJudgeStorywouldhaveus,asaconsolidatedgovernmentofallthepeopleoftheUnitedStates,weshallnotfindinitthissalutarycountervailinginterest.Inanenlargedsense,itis,indeed,thegreatestinterestofalltosupportthatgovernmentinitspurity;for,althoughitisundoubtedlydefectiveinmanyimportantrespects,itismuchthebestthathasyetbeendevised.Unhappily,however,thegreatestinterestofthewholeisnotfelttobe,althoughintruthitis,thegreatestinterestofalltheparts.Thisresultsfromthefact,thatourcharacterisnothomogeneous,andourpursuitsarewhollydifferent.Rightlyunderstood,thesefactsshouldtendtobindusthemorecloselytogether,byshowingusourdependenceuponeachother;anditshouldteachusthenecessityofwatching,withthegreaterjealousy,everydeparturefromthestrictprinciplesofourunion.Itisatruth,however,nolessmelancholythanincontestable,thatifthiseverwastheviewofthepeople,ithasceasedtobeso.Anditcouldnotbeotherwise.WhateverbethetheoryofourConstitution,itspractice,oflateyears,hasmadeitaconsolidatedgovernment;thegovernmentofanirresponsiblemajority.Ifthatmajoritycanfind,eitherinthepursuitsoftheirownpeculiarindustry,orintheofficesandemolumentswhichflowfromthepatronageofthegovernment,aninterestdistinctfromthatoftheminority,theywillpursuethatinterest,andnothingwillbelefttotheminoritybutthepoorprivilegeofcomplaining.Thusthegovernmentbecomestyrannousandoppressive,preciselyinproportionasitsdemocraticprincipleisextended;andinsteadoftheenlargedandgeneralinterestwhichshouldcheckandrestrainit,apeculiarinterestisenlisted,toextenditspowersandsustainitsabuses.Publicvirtueandintelligenceavaillittle,insuchaconditionofthingsasthis.Thatvirtuefallsbeforethetemptation\'sofinterestwhichyoupresenttoit,andthatintelligence,thusdeprivedofitsencouraginghopes,servesonlytopointoutnewobjectsofunlawfulpursuit,andsuggestnewandbasermethodsofattainingthem.