It follows that the electors will not do wisely if they insist on
absolute conformity to their opinions as the condition of his
retaining his seat.
The principle is, thus far, obvious; but there are real difficulties
in its application: and we will begin by stating them in their
greatest force. If it is important that the electors should choose a
representative more highly instructed than themselves, it is no less
necessary that this wiser man should be responsible to them; in
other words, they are the judges of the manner in which he fulfils his
trust: and how are they to judge, except by the standard of their
own opinions? How are they even to select him in the first instance
but by the same standard? It will not do to choose by mere
brilliancy- by superiority of showy talent. The tests by which an
ordinary man can judge beforehand of mere ability are very
imperfect: such as they are, they have almost exclusive reference to
the arts of expression, and little or none to the worth of what is
expressed. The latter cannot be inferred from the former; and if the
electors are to put their own opinions in abeyance, what criterion
remains to them of the ability to govern well? Neither, if they
could ascertain, even infallibly, the ablest man, ought they to
allow him altogether to judge for them, without any reference to their
own opinions.
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