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Show 66 THE FEDEHAL CO~ VJ~NTION. you establish a sovereignly of the worst kind consr1sting of a sm· g1 c ,, dy \¥here arc the checks? None. rhey must uO . either prevail over the State goverumc1~is, or ~he ~)l'eval~nce of the Slate governments must end m then· d1 solntwn. This is a conclu i vc objection to the J crscy plnn. Such arc the iusupcrn.Llc objections to both plans, and what is to be done on this occasion? I confess I am at a loss. I foresee the diiliculty, on a consolidated plan, of drawing a representation from so extensive a continent to 1 Wllnt can be the inducements for gentlemen to one p ace. w • come six hunured miles to a legi ·laturc ? 'l'he cxpcn.se would at least amount to a hundred thousand pounds. Tlns, however, can be uo conclu~i ve objection, if it eventuates in n.n extinction of State governments: reduced to corporations, and with very limited powers, they might l.lc neccssart, and the expense of the national government less l.l.urdcnsomc. Yet, I confess, I sec ~rcn.t diUknlty of drn.wlllg fo1·Lh a good reprcscutation. vVhn.t, for example, will he the inducements for gentlemen of fortune and abiliLies to leave their houses and business to attend annually and long? It cannot be the wages; for these, I presume, must be small. Will not the power, therefore, be thrown into the hands of the dcmagorrnc or middling politician-who, for tl~e sfike of a small stipend and the hopes of advancement, will offer himself as a candidate, and the real men of weight and in· fiucnce, by remaining at home, atld strength to the State rrovcrnments? I am at a loss to know what mnst be done. h I despair that a republican form of govcrnmcn t can remove the difficulties. \Vhatcvcr may be my opinion, I would hold it, however, unwise to change that form of government: ' I be· licvc the British Government forms the best model the world ever produced; and such has been its progress in tho minds of many, that the truth gradually gains gro~nd.' rl,his government has for its ohjcct public strength anu tndt· vidual sf'curity. It is said with ns to he unn.ttainahle. If THE F EDEllAIJ CONY ENTION. 67 1t was once formed, it would maintain itself. All communities divide thcrm;clvcs into the few and the many. Tho first arc the rich and well born, the othcr·s the mass of the people. The voice of the people is said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true in fact. The people arc turbulent and changing; they seldom jtH]gc or dctermi11c rightly. Give, therefore, the first cla s a distinct and permanent share in the govern men i. 'rhcy will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by change, they therefore will vcr maintain good government. Can a democratic assembly, who annually revolve in tho mass of people, be sn pposcd steadily to pursue the public good ? Nothing but a permanent body can check the imprndencc of democracy; their turbulent and illcontro1lablc disposition rcqnircs checks. The Senate of N cw York alLhough chosen for fom· years, we have found to be incffi~ cient. Will, on the Virginia plan, a continuance of seven ycnrs do it? It is admitted thn.t yon cannot have a O"Ood exeeu L~' ~: upon a d.cmocratic plan. Sec the excellencoy of the llnt1sh executive. lie is above temptation-he can have no distinct interest from the pnblic welfare. Notbiu()" short of such an executive can be efficient. 'J.1hc weak sid: ?f ~ r~publicn.1~ go\-ernmcnt is the danger of foreign influence. rh1s IS unavoidable, unless it is so constructed as to brin()" forward its first cb~tracters in its support. I am, therefor; for a general government, yet would wish to 0'0 the full length of the republican principle. 0 Let one body of the legislature be constituted durino-good behavior, or life. 0 Let one executive be appointed, who dares execute his po~vcrs .. It may be a ked, Is this a republican system? It IS stnetly so, as long as thc•y remain elective. And let me observe, that an executive is less dangerous |