Public prosecutions are become little better than schools for treason,--of no use but to improve the dexterity of criminals in the mystery of evasion, or to show with what complete impunity men may conspire against the commonwealth, with what safety assassins may attempt its awful head.
Burke critiques public prosecutions, suggesting they serve to educate criminals rather than uphold justice.
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The body of the people must not find the principles of natural subordination by art rooted out of their minds.
Rome, under her emperors, united the evils of both systems; and this unnatural combination was one great cause of her ruin.
Never did a state, in any case, enrich itself by the confiscations of the citizens.
Those who know what virtuous liberty is cannot bear to see it disgraced by incapable heads, on account of their having high-sounding words in their mouths.
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