To attempt, therefore, to insist upon any particular form, as being universally obligatory, would be calling out great national opposition to religion. Because, that no particular form, of church or state government, either now is, or ever has been, suited to all degrees of intelligence, and states of society. Because the forms of both church and state governments, need to be changed, with any great elevations or depressions of society in regard to their intelligence and virtue. The particular forms of Church and State Government, must and will depend upon the virtue and intelligence of the people. Democracy is self government, and can never be safe or useful, only so far as there is sufficient intelligence and virtue in the community to impose, by mutual consent, salutary self restraints, and to enforce by the power of public sentiment, and by the fear and love of God, the practice of those virtues which are indispensable to the highest good of any community.
Republics are another and less perfect form of self government.
When there are not sufficient intelligence and virtue among the people, to legislate in accordance with the highest good of the state or nation, then both democracies and republics are improper and impracticable, as forms of government. When there is too little intelligence and virtue in the mass of the people, to legislate on correct principles, monarchies are better calculated to restrain vice and promote virtue. In the worst states of society, despotisms, either civil or military, are the only proper and efficient forms of government. When virtue and intelligence are nearly universal, democratic forms of government are well suited to promote the public good. In such a state of society, democracy is greatly conducive to the general diffusion of knowledge on governmental subjects.