Page:A Declaration of the People's Natural Right to a Share in the Legislature (1775) (IA declarationofpeo00shar).djvu/206

liament) were indeed chosen by a small part of the people of England, yet the legal Representation, even of that small part, was out of date and void, from the length of time that the said Representatives had continued without Re-election, which was about ten years; whereas it is well known that the due effect, or virtue, of popular Representation, was formerly supposed to be incapable (like some annual fruits) of being so long preserved in useful purity, without a seasonable renewal, (53) from time to time;