Whitelaw Reid: “What right had any man to a share in shaping the legislation of the…”

On the record

What right had any man to a share in shaping the legislation of the country who had no settled interest in the country?

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Whitelaw Reid

Source

Reid argues that individuals without a vested interest in the country should not influence its legislation.

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A paper that is not as free to censure as to approve, has no virtue in its support, and no importance attaches to its utterances.

Brushing aside, then, these bugbears, gentlemen, what are the obvious duties of the hour?

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But proofs were not wanting of the spirit in which, to the very last, the conflict against the Government had been waged.

Whitelaw Reid: “What right had any man to a share in shaping the legislation of the country who had no settled interest in the country?”