Because the charters comprehend the essential forms by which you enjoy your liberties, we regard them as most sacred, and by no means to be taken away or altered without process, without examination, and without hearing, as they have lately been.
Burke emphasizes the sacredness of charters and the need for due process in altering them.
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But supposing they had ranked as they ought to do, and as with us they do actually, the sides of sick-beds are not the academies for forming statesmen and legislators.
Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for the monarchy.
But the king of Great Britain obeys no other person; all other persons are individually, and collectively too, under him, and owe to him a legal obedience.
The engagement and pact of society, which generally goes by the name of the Constitution, forbids such invasion and such surrender.
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