conſiſts in the choice of repreſentatives. The laws have therefore very ſtrictly guarded againſt uſurpation or abuſe of this power, by many ſalutary proviſions; which may be reduced to theſe three points, 1. The qualifications of the electors. 2. The qualifications of the elected. 3. The proceedings at elections.
1. As to the qualifications of the electors. The true reaſon of requiring any qualification, with regard to property, in voters, is to exclude ſuch perſons as are in ſo mean a ſituation that they are eſteemed to have no will of their own. If theſe perſons had votes, they would be tempted to diſpoſe of them under ſome undue influence or other. This would give a great, an artful, or a wealthy man, a larger ſhare in elections than is conſiſtent with general liberty. If it were probable that every man would give his vote freely, and without influence of any kind, then, upon the true theory and genuine principles of liberty, every member of the community, however poor, ſhould have a vote in electing thoſe delegates, to whoſe charge is committed the diſpoſal of his property, his liberty, and his life. But, ſince that can hardly be expected in perſons of indigent fortunes, or ſuch as are under the immediate dominion of others, all popular ſtates have been obliged to eſtabliſh certain qualifications; whereby ſome, who are ſuſpected to have no will of their own, are excluded from voting, in order to ſet other individuals, whoſe wills may be ſuppoſed independent, more thoroughly upon a level with each other.
And this conſtitution of ſuffrages is framed upon a wiſer principle, with us, than either of the methods of voting, by centuries or by tribes, among the Romans. In the method by centuries, inſtituted by Servius Tullius, it was principally property, and not numbers, that turned the ſcale: in the method by tribes, gradually introduced by the tribunes of the people, numbers only were regarded and property entirely overlooked. Hence the laws paſſed by the former method had uſually too great a tendency to aggrandize the patricians or rich nobles; and thoſe by the latter had too much of a levelling principle. Our conſtitution ſteers
