He says, he had in vain, upon a former occasion, appealed to their honor, liberality, and generosity,--that he now appeals to their justice; and insists upon their decreeing this bribe--which he had taken without telling them from whom, where, or on what account--to his own use.
Burke illustrates the desperation of an individual appealing for justice after taking a bribe, emphasizing the lack of transparency.
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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.
By adhering in this manner and on those principles to our forefathers, we are guided, not by the superstition of antiquarians, but by the spirit of philosophic analogy.
Who could doubt but that, at any expense to the state, of which they understood nothing, they must pursue their private interests, which they understood but too well?
A few years ago I should be ashamed to overload a matter so capable of supporting itself by the then unnecessary support of any argument; but this seditious, unconstitutional doctrine is now publicly taught, avowed, and printed.
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