conversant
well informed about or knowing thoroughly
Every man the least
conversant in Roman story, knows how often that republic was obliged to take refuge in the absolute power of a single man, under the formidable title of Dictator, as well against the intrigues of ambitious individuals who aspired to the tyranny, and the seditions of whole classes of the community whose conduct threatened the existence of all government, as against the invasions of external enemies who menaced the conquest and destruction of Rome.
sedition
an illegal action inciting resistance to lawful authority
Every man the least conversant in Roman story, knows how often that republic was obliged to take refuge in the absolute power of a single man, under the formidable title of Dictator, as well against the intrigues of ambitious individuals who aspired to the tyranny, and the
seditions of whole classes of the community whose conduct threatened the existence of all government, as against the invasions of external enemies who menaced the conquest and destruction of Rome.
propriety
correct behavior
They have with great
propriety, considered energy as the most necessary qualification of the former, and have regarded this as most applicable to power in a single hand, while they have, with equal
propriety, considered the latter as best adapted to deliberation and wisdom, and best calculated to conciliate the confidence of the people and to secure their privileges and interests.
eminent
standing above others in quality or position
Decision, activity, secrecy, and despatch will generally characterize the proceedings of one man in a much more
eminent degree than the proceedings of any greater number; and in proportion as the number is increased, these qualities will be diminished.
ostensibly
from appearances alone
This unity may be destroyed in two ways: either by vesting the power in two or more magistrates of equal dignity and authority; or by vesting it
ostensibly in one man, subject, in whole or in part, to the control and co-operation of others, in the capacity of counsellors to him.
partisan
a fervent and even militant proponent of something
Both these methods of destroying the unity of the Executive have their
partisans; but the votaries of an executive council are the most numerous.
votary
a devoted adherent of a cause or person or activity
Both these methods of destroying the unity of the Executive have their partisans; but the
votaries of an executive council are the most numerous.
advert
make reference to
That the dissensions between them were not more frequent or more fatal, is a matter of astonishment, until we
advert to the singular position in which the republic was almost continually placed, and to the prudent policy pointed out by the circumstances of the state, and pursued by the Consuls, of making a division of the government between them.
patrician
a member of the aristocracy
The
patricians engaged in a perpetual struggle with the plebeians for the preservation of their ancient authorities and dignities; the Consuls, who were generally chosen out of the former body, were commonly united by the personal interest they had in the defense of the privileges of their order.
plebeian
one of the common people
The patricians engaged in a perpetual struggle with the
plebeians for the preservation of their ancient authorities and dignities; the Consuls, who were generally chosen out of the former body, were commonly united by the personal interest they had in the defense of the privileges of their order.
environs
an outer adjacent area of any place
In addition to this motive of union, after the arms of the republic had considerably expanded the bounds of its empire, it became an established custom with the Consuls to divide the administration between themselves by lot one of them remaining at Rome to govern the city and its
environs, the other taking the command in the more distant provinces.
expedient
a means to an end
This
expedient must, no doubt, have had great influence in preventing those collisions and rivalships which might otherwise have embroiled the peace of the republic.
embroil
force into some kind of situation or course of action
This expedient must, no doubt, have had great influence in preventing those collisions and rivalships which might otherwise have
embroiled the peace of the republic.
apt
at risk of or subject to experiencing something
From either, and especially from all these causes, the most bitter dissensions are
apt to spring.
infallibility
the quality of never making an error
They seem to think themselves bound in honor, and by all the motives of personal
infallibility, to defeat the success of what has been resolved upon contrary to their sentiments.
disposition
an attitude of mind that favors one alternative over others
Men of upright, benevolent tempers have too many opportunities of remarking, with horror, to what desperate lengths this
disposition is sometimes carried, and how often the great interests of society are sacrificed to the vanity, to the conceit, and to the obstinacy of individuals, who have credit enough to make their passions and their caprices interesting to mankind.
conceit
feelings of excessive pride
Men of upright, benevolent tempers have too many opportunities of remarking, with horror, to what desperate lengths this disposition is sometimes carried, and how often the great interests of society are sacrificed to the vanity, to the
conceit, and to the obstinacy of individuals, who have credit enough to make their passions and their caprices interesting to mankind.
obstinacy
resolute adherence to your own ideas or desires
Men of upright, benevolent tempers have too many opportunities of remarking, with horror, to what desperate lengths this disposition is sometimes carried, and how often the great interests of society are sacrificed to the vanity, to the conceit, and to the
obstinacy of individuals, who have credit enough to make their passions and their caprices interesting to mankind.
caprice
a sudden desire
Men of upright, benevolent tempers have too many opportunities of remarking, with horror, to what desperate lengths this disposition is sometimes carried, and how often the great interests of society are sacrificed to the vanity, to the conceit, and to the obstinacy of individuals, who have credit enough to make their passions and their
caprices interesting to mankind.
vice
moral weakness
Perhaps the question now before the public may, in its consequences, afford melancholy proofs of the effects of this despicable frailty, or rather detestable
vice, in the human character.
pernicious
working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
It is here too that they may be most
pernicious.
salutary
tending to promote physical well-being; beneficial to health
The differences of opinion, and the jarrings of parties in that department of the government, though they may sometimes obstruct
salutary plans, yet often promote deliberation and circumspection, and serve to check excesses in the majority.
palliate
lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of
But no favorable circumstances
palliate or atone for the disadvantages of dissension in the executive department.
cabal
a clique that seeks power usually through intrigue
An artful
cabal in that council would be able to distract and to enervate the whole system of administration.
enervate
weaken physically, mentally, or morally
An artful cabal in that council would be able to distract and to
enervate the whole system of administration.
tincture
fill, as with a certain quality
If no such cabal should exist, the mere diversity of views and opinions would alone be sufficient to
tincture the exercise of the executive authority with a spirit of habitual feebleness and dilatoriness.
dilatory
wasting time
If no such cabal should exist, the mere diversity of views and opinions would alone be sufficient to tincture the exercise of the executive authority with a spirit of habitual feebleness and
dilatoriness.
censure
harsh criticism or disapproval
Responsibility is of two kinds to
censure and to punishment.
render
cause to become
Man, in public trust, will much oftener act in such a manner as to
render him unworthy of being any longer trusted, than in such a manner as to make him obnoxious to legal punishment.
incur
make oneself subject to
The circumstances which may have led to any national miscarriage or misfortune are sometimes so complicated that, where there are a number of actors who may have had different degrees and kinds of agency, though we may clearly see upon the whole that there has been mismanagement, yet it may be impracticable to pronounce to whose account the evil which may have been
incurred is truly chargeable.
pretext
a fictitious reason that conceals the real reason
These and similar
pretexts are constantly at hand, whether true or false.
odium
state of disgrace resulting from detestable behavior
And who is there that will either take the trouble or incur the
odium, of a strict scrutiny into the secret springs of the transaction?
collusion
agreement on a secret plot
Should there be found a citizen zealous enough to undertake the unpromising task, if there happen to be
collusion between the parties concerned, how easy it is to clothe the circumstances with so much ambiguity, as to render it uncertain what was the precise conduct of any of those parties?
flagrant
conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
Some cases, indeed, have been so
flagrant that all parties have agreed in the impropriety of the thing.
manifest
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
When inquiry has been made, the blame has been laid by the governor on the members of the council, who, on their part, have charged it upon his nomination; while the people remain altogether at a loss to determine, by whose influence their interests have been committed to hands so unqualified and so
manifestly improper.
forbear
refrain from doing
In tenderness to individuals, I
forbear to descend to particulars.
maxim
a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
In England, the king is a perpetual magistrate; and it is a
maxim which has obtained for the sake of the public peace, that he is unaccountable for his administration, and his person sacred.
contend
maintain or assert
If the maxim should be admitted to be applicable to the case, I should
contend that the advantage on that side would not counterbalance the numerous disadvantages on the opposite side.
usurpation
wrongfully seizing and holding by force
The Decemvirs of Rome, whose name denotes their number, were more to be dreaded in their
usurpation than any one of them would have been.
equivocal
open to question
I forbear to dwell upon the subject of expense; though it be evident that if the council should be numerous enough to answer the principal end aimed at by the institution, the salaries of the members, who must be drawn from their homes to reside at the seat of government, would form an item in the catalogue of public expenditures too serious to be incurred for an object of
equivocal utility.