It is thus that the existence of an hereditary nobility tends to increase the price necessary to he paid in the shape of reward.Has a plebeian rendered such services to his country as cannot be passed by with neglect, the first operation is to distinguish him from men of his own rank, by placing him among the nobility.But without fortune, a peerage is a burthen; to make it worth having, it must be accompanied with pecuniary reward: the immediate payment of a large sum would be too burthensome; posterity is therefore made to bear a portion of the burthen.
It is true, posterity ought to pay its share in the price of services of which it reaps a share of the advantage.But the ame benefit might be procured at a lew expense: if there were no hereditary nobility, personal nobility would answer every purpose.Among the Greeks, a branch from a pine tree, a handful of barley,---among the Romans, a few laurel leaves, or ears of corn,---were the rewards of heroes.
Fortunate Americans! fortunate on so many accounts, if to possess happiness, it were sufficient to possess everything by which it is constituted, this advantage is still yours!---Preserve it forever:
bestow rewards, erect statues, confer even titles, so that they be personal alone; but never bind the crown of merit upon the brow of sloth.
Such is the language of those passionate admirers of merit who would gladly see a generous emulation burning in ull ranks of the community---who consider everything wasted which is not employed in its promotion.Can anything be replied to them? If there can, it can only be by those who, jealous of the public tranquillity as necessary to the enjoyments of luxury, and more alarmed at the folly which knows no restraint than at the selfishness which may be constrained to regulate itself, would have, at any price, a class of persons who may impose tranquillity upon those who can never be taught.
In some states the strictest frugality is observed in the distribution of rewards: such in general has been the case under republican governments; though it is true, that even in democracies, history furnishes instances of the most extravagant prodigality and corruption.
The species of reward bestowed by the people upon their favourites with the least examination, is power---a gift more precious and dangerous than titles of honour or pecuniary rewards.The maxim, Woe to the grateful nation! is altogether devoid of meaning, unless it be designed as a warning against this disposition of the people to confer unlimited authority upon those who for a moment obtain their confidence.
After having said thus much in favour of economy, it must not be denied that specious pretences may be urged in justification of a liberal use of rewards.
That portion of the matter of reward which is superfluously employed it is said, may be considered as the fund of a species of lottery.
At a comparatively small expense, a large mass of expectation is created, and prizes are offered which every man may flatter himself with the hope of obtaining.And what are all the other sources of enjoyment, when put in competition with hope? But can such reasons justify the imposition or continuance of taxes with no other view than that of increasing the amount of tho disposable fund of reward? Certainly not.It would be absurd thus to create a real evil---thus to pillage the multitude of what they have earned by the sweat of their brow, to multiply the enjoyments of the wealthy.
In a word, whatever may be thought of this lottery, we must not forget that its prizes must be drawn before we can obtain any useful services.
To the individual himself, active is more conducive to his happiness than idle hope: the one develops his talents, the other renders them obtuse;the first is naturally allied to virtue, the second to vice.
In England, reasons, or at least pretexts, have been found for the arbitrary disposal of rewards, which would not exist under an absolute monarchy.The constitution of parliament gives occasion to the performance of services of such a nature as cannot be acknowledged, but which in the eyes of many politicians are not the less necessary.Acertain quantity of talent is requisite, it is said, to save the political vessel from being upset by any momentary turbulence or whim of the people.
