All communities divide themselves into few and the many. the first are the rich and well born; the other, the mass of the people. the voice of the people has been said to be the voice of god, and however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. the people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the govt. they will check the unsteadiness of the second; and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government. can a democratic assembly, who annually (through annual elections) revolve in the mass of the people, be supposed steadily to pursue the public good? nothing but a permanent body can check the imprudence of democracy. their turbulent and uncontrolling disposition requires checks.