With a parliament populated by creatures from the executive, the country, its fortune and its liberty are left defenceless – and this is where lie the roots of a revolution.

Frédéric Bastiat
Complete Works, Volume 7, pages 300 to 303 (in French)
July 12th, 1846

This letter is a response to a letter from Elie de Dampierre who was requesting the support from Frédéric Bastiat to the general election of 1846. He manages to write tactfully that he will not support him because he is deeply opposed to the legitimists (among whom Mr. Dampierre found himself) who were trying to reestablish to the throne the older Bourbon dynasty, while explaining that he would prefer him to a “secretary under the command of Mr. the Duke of Nemours” (son of Louis-Philippe, King of the French).

Today’s quote sums up rather well the position of Frédéric Bastiat. He considers that the parliament should be a balancing power to the executive and should not be a simple rubber-stamping committee following the orders of the government. This is yet another proof of the deeply democratic views of Frédéric Bastiat who is not only a fervent advocate of liberty but also wishes to see institutions that support liberty, always looking to avoid the implementation of an autocratic regime, not least because the only way to oppose such a regime would be another revolution, which is not desirable and the source of misery.