Representative assemblies are often taunted by their enemies with
being places of mere talk and bavardage. There has seldom been more
misplaced derision. I know not how a representative assembly can
more usefully employ itself than in talk, when the subject of talk
is the great public interests of the country, and every sentence of it
represents the opinion either of some important body of persons in the
nation, or of an individual in whom some such body have reposed
their confidence. A place where every interest and shade of opinion in
the country can have its cause even passionately pleaded, in the
face of the government and of all other interests and opinions, can
compel them to listen, and either comply, or state clearly why they do
not, is in itself, if it answered no other purpose, one of the most
important political institutions that can exist anywhere, and one of
the foremost benefits of free government. Such "talking" would never
be looked upon with disparagement if it were not allowed to stop
"doing"; which it never would, if assemblies knew and acknowledged
that talking and discussion are their proper business, while doing, as
the result of discussion, is the task not of a miscellaneous body, but
of individuals specially trained to it; that the fit office of an
assembly is to see that those individuals are honestly and
intelligently chosen, and to interfere no further with them, except by
unlimited latitude of suggestion and criticism, and by applying or
withholding the final seal of national assent.
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