The danger of disturbing the public tranquillity by interesting too strongly the public passions, is a still more serious objection against a frequent reference of constitutional questions to the decision of the whole society.

Summary

This quote highlights the potential harm in constantly involving the entire society in the decision-making process for constitutional matters. It argues that strongly arousing public passions in these discussions can lead to a disturbance of public tranquility. The implication is that too much public involvement in constitutional debates may incite conflicts and divisions that could undermine social cohesion and stability. Therefore, the quote suggests that caution must be exercised when directly involving the public in decisions relating to constitutional issues.