Excerpt from Political Disquisitions, Vol. 1: Or an Enquiry Into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses

Ever since I have been of age to distinguish between good and evil, I have observed, that, in this blessed country of ours, the men in power have pursued one uniform track of taxing and corrupting the people, and increasing court-influence in parliament, while the pretended patriots have exclaimed against those measures, at least till themselves got into power, and had an opportunity of carrying on the same plan of government, which they seldom failed to do, while the constitution was drawing nearer to its ruin, and our country lay bleeding.

I was sure, there was a right and a wrong in government, as in other things. I knew, that the spirit of the constitution, and the interest of the nation are fixed things, not to be altered backward and forward according as Harley, a Walpole, or a Pelham, was in, or out of place. I saw much quibbling and fallacy in our party-squabbles, while I was certain, that there was a true and a false in politics, as in all other objects of human understanding.

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