It is not
everything which appears at first view to be faulty, in such a
complicated plan, that is to be determined to be so in reality. To
enable us to correct the Constitution, the whole Constitution must be
viewed together; and it must be compared with the actual state of the
people, and the circumstances of the time. For that which taken singly
and by itself may appear to be wrong, when considered with relation to
other things, may be perfectly right,--or at least such as ought to be
patiently endured, as the means of preventing something that is worse.
So far with regard to what at first view may appear a _distemper_ in the
Constitution. As to the _remedy_ of that distemper an equal caution
ought to be used; because this latter consideration is not single and
separate, no more than the former. There are many things in reformation
which would be proper to be done, if other things can be done along with
them, but which, if they cannot be so accompanied, ought not to be done
at all. I therefore wish, when any new matter of this deep nature is
proposed to me, to have the whole scheme distinctly in my view, and full
time to consider of it.
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