What a sense of security in an old book which Time has criticized for us! - James Russell Lowell

From the summit of power men no longer turn their eyes upward, but begin to look about them. Aspiration sees only one side of every question; possession, many.

She doeth little kindnesses
Which most leave undone, or despise.

Their problem was how to adapt English principles and precedents to the new conditions of American life, and they solved it with singular discretion. They put as many obstacles as they could contrive, not in the way of the people's will, but of their whim.