This evil, as far as
Government bills are concerned, admits of remedy, and has been
remedied in some representative constitutions, by allowing the
Government to be represented in either House by persons in its
confidence, having a right to speak, though not to vote.
If that, as yet considerable, majority of the House of Commons who
never desire to move an amendment or make a speech would no longer
leave the whole regulation of business to those who do; if they
would bethink themselves that better qualifications for legislation
exist, and may be found if sought for, than a fluent tongue and the
faculty of getting elected by a constituency; it would soon be
recognised that, in legislation as well as administration, the only
task to which a representative assembly can possibly be competent is
not that of doing the work, but of causing it to be done; of
determining to whom or to what sort of people it shall be confided,
and giving or withholding the national sanction to it when
performed. Any government fit for a high state of civilisation would
have as one of its fundamental elements a small body, not exceeding in
number the members of a Cabinet, who should act as a Commission of
legislation, having for its appointed office to make the laws. If
the laws of this country were, as surely they will soon be, revised
and put into a connected form, the Commission of Codification by which
this is effected should remain as a permanent institution, to watch
over the work, protect it from deterioration, and make further
improvements as often as required.
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