[5]
There is one plea which he thinks a clever defence of the omission of the
preliminary decree. There is a law, he says, that if the Council by its
performance of its duties seems to deserve a reward, that reward shall be
presented by the people. That question, he says, the chairman of the Assembly
put, the people voted, and it was carried. In this case, he says, there is no
need of a preliminary decree, because what was done was in accordance with law.
But I take the exactly contrary view-and I think you will agree with
me—that the preliminary decrees should only be proposed concerning
matters prescribed by the laws, because, where no laws are laid down, surely no
proposal whatever is admissible.
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by A. T. Murray, Ph.D., LL.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1939.
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