The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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PUBLIC OPINION.
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
PUBLIC OPINION.[42]
Public opinion sets bounds to every government, and is the
real sovereign in every free one.
As there are cases where the public opinion must be obeyed
by the government; so there are cases, where not being fixed,
it may be influenced by the government. This distinction, if
kept in view, would prevent or decide many debates on the respect
due from the government to the sentiments of the people.
In proportion as government is influenced by opinion, it
must be so, by whatever influences opinion. This decides
the question concerning a Constitutional Declaration of Rights,
which requires an influence on government, by becoming a
part of public opinion.
The larger a country, the less easy for its real opinion to be
ascertained, and the less difficult to be counterfeited; when
ascertained or presumed, the more respectable it is in the
eyes of individuals.—This is favorable to the authority of
government. For the same reason, the more extensive a
country, the more insignificant is each individual in his own
eyes.—This may be unfavorable to liberty.
Whatever facilitates a general intercourse of sentiments,
as good roads, domestic commerce, a free press, and particularly
a circulation of newspapers through the entire body of
the people, and Representatives going from, and returning
among every part of them, is equivalent to a contraction of
territorial limits, and is favorable to liberty, where these may
be too extensive.
| The writings of James Madison, | |