He is directly subject
to the legislative power, to the people; he is a single man, resisting
the combined attack of opinion, personal interests and the passions of
society."
Elsewhere in his address, he remarks:
"The government of Venezuela has been, is, and must be Republican
its foundation must be the sovereignty of the people, the division of
powers, civil freedom, the proscription of slavery, the abolition
of monarchy and of privileges." ... "Unlimited freedom, absolute
democracy, are the rocks upon which Republican hopes have been
destroyed. Look at the old republics, the modern republics, and the
republics now in process of formation; almost all have aimed to
establish themselves as absolutely democratic, and almost all have
failed in their just desires." ... "Angels only, and not men, could
exist free, peaceful and happy, while all of them exercise sovereign
power." ... "Let the legislative power relinquish the attributes
belonging to the executive, but let it acquire, nevertheless, new
influence in the true balance of authority. Let the courts be
strengthened by the stability and independence of the judges
the establishment of juries, and of civil and criminal codes, not
prescribed by old times, nor by conquering kings, but by the voice of
nature, by the clamor of justice and by the genius of wisdom." ...
"Humankind cries against the thoughtless and blind legislators who have
thought that they might with impunity try chimerical institutions.
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