It is the public opinion formed in the independent expressions of towns and other small civil districts that is the real conservatism of free government.

It is equally the enemy of that dangerous evil, the corruption of the ballot-box, from which it is now apprehended that one of our greatest troubles is to arise.
The voter is selected, under our laws, because he has certain physical qualifications--age and sex.

His disqualifications, when any are imposed, relate to his education or property, and to the fact that he has not been convicted of crime.

Of all men he should be most directly amenable to public opinion.
The test of moral character and devotion to the duties of good citizenship are ignored in the laws, because the courts can seldom deal with such questions in a uniform and satisfactory way, under rules that apply alike to all.

Thus the voter, selected by law to represent himself and four other non-voting citizens, is often a person who is unfit for any public duty or trust.