The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 11.: Parlimentary Debates II.Johnson, Samuel
History
The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.D. Volume 11.: Parlimentary Debates II.
Johnson, Samuel
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons -- History -- 18th century
After the conclusion of this long debate, the ministry did not yet
think their victory in repelling this censure sufficiently apparent,
unless a motion was admitted, which might imply a full and unlimited
approbation of their measures; and therefore the earl of SCARBOROUGH
rose, and spoke to the following effect:--My lords, it has been justly
observed in the debate of this day, that the opinions of the people of
Britain are regulated in a great measure by the determinations of this
house; that they consider this as the place where truth and reason
obtain a candid audience; as a place sacred to justice and to honour;
into which, passion, partiality, and faction have been very rarely
known to intrude; and that they, therefore, watch our decisions as the
great rules of policy, and standing maxims of right, and readily
believe these measures necessary in which we concur, and that conduct
unblameable which has gained our approbation.
This reputation, my lords, we ought diligently to preserve, by an
unwearied vigilance for the happiness of our fellow-subjects; and
while we possess it, we ought likewise to employ its influence to
beneficial purposes, that the cause and the effect may reciprocally
produce each other; that the people, when the prosperity which they
enjoy by our care, inclines them to repose in us an implicit
confidence, may find that confidence a new source of felicity; that
they may reverence us, because they are secure and happy; and be
secure and happy, because they reverence us.
This great end, my lords, it will not be very difficult to attain; the
foundation of this exalted authority may easily be laid, and the
superstructure raised in a short time; the one may be laid too deep to
be undermined, and the other built too firmly to be shaken; at least
they can be impaired only by ourselves, and may set all external
violence at defiance.
To preserve the confidence of the people, and, consequently, to govern
them without force, and without opposition, it is only necessary that
we never willingly deceive them; that we expose the publick affairs to
their view, so far as they ought to be made publick in their true
state; that we never suffer false reports to circulate under the
sanction of our authority, nor give the nation reason to think we are
satisfied, when we are, in reality, suspicious of illegal designs, or
that we suspect those measures of latent mischiefs with which we are,
in reality, completely satisfied.
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