In the person of our enemy and his chieftains we have living example how wicked men of ordinary talents are emboldened by success.

There is a kindliness, as they feel, in the nature of advancement; and prosperity is their Genius.

But let us know and remember that this prosperity, with all the terrible features which it has gradually assumed, is a child of noble parents--Liberty and Philanthropic Love.

Perverted as the creature is which it has grown up to (rather, into which it has passed),--from no inferior stock could it have issued.

It is the Fallen Spirit, triumphant in misdeeds, which was formerly a blessed Angel.
If then (to return to ourselves) there be such strong obstacles in the way of our drawing benefit either from the maxims of policy or the principles of justice: what hope remains that the British Nation should repair, by its future conduct, the injury which has been done ?--We cannot advance a step towards a rational answer to this question--without previously adverting to the original sources of our miscarriages; which are these:--First; a want, in the minds of the members of government and public functionaries, of knowledge indispensible for this service; and, secondly, a want of power, in the same persons acting in their corporate capacities, to give effect to the knowledge which individually they possess .-- Of the latter source of weakness,--this inability as caused by decay in the machine of government, and by illegitimate forces which are checking and controuling its constitutional motions,--I have not spoken, nor shall I now speak: for I have judged it best to suspend my task for a while: and this subject, being in its nature delicate, ought not to be lightly or transiently touched.