Edmund Burke: “My Lords, they did rebel; it was a just rebellion.”

This is the spirit of our Constitution, not only in its settled course, but in all its revolutions.

The House of Lords, for instance, is not morally competent to dissolve the House of Commons,--no, nor even to dissolve itself, nor to abdicate, if it would, its portion in the legislature of the kingdom.

As he is not to obey us, but we are to obey the law in him, our Constitution has made no sort of provision towards rendering him, as a servant, in any degree responsible.

Those who are servants in name, as well as in effect, do not like to be told of their situation, their duty, and their obligations.