What then could be done in this case to
prevent the community from being exposed some time or other to
eminent hazard, on one side or the other, by fixed intervals and
periods, set to the meeting and acting of the legislative, but to
intrust it to the prudence of some, who being present, and
acquainted with the state of public affairs, might make use of
this prerogative for the public good? and where else could this
be so well placed as in his hands, who was intrusted with the
execution of the laws for the same end? Thus supposing the
regulation of times for the assembling and sitting of the
legislative, not settled by the original constitution, it
naturally fell into the hands of the executive, not as an
arbitrary power depending on his good pleasure, but with this
trust always to have it exercised only for the public weal, as
the occurrences of times and change of affairs might require.
Whether settled periods of their convening, or a liberty left to
the prince for convoking the legislative, or perhaps a mixture of
both, hath the least inconvenience attending it, it is not my
business here to inquire, but only to shew, that though the
executive power may have the prerogative of convoking and
dissolving such conventions of the legislative, yet it is not
thereby superior to it.
Sec. 157. Things of this world are in so constant a flux,
that nothing remains long in the same state.
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