1. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION

poor, and render the lives of the common people a burden to them.
The great and only security the people can have against oppression
from this kind of taxes, must rest in their representatives. If they are
sufficiently numerous to be well informed of the circumstances, and
ability of those who send them, and have a proper regard for the peo-
ple, they will be secure. The general legislature, as I have shewn in a
former paper,3 will not be thus qualified, and therefore, on this ac-
count, ought not to exercise the power of direct taxation. If the power
of laying imposts will not be sufficient, some other specific mode of
raising a revenue should have been assigned the general government;
many may be suggested in which their power may be accurately defined
and limited, and it would be much better to give them authority to lay
and collect a duty on exports, not to exceed a certain rate per cent,
than to have surrendered every kind of resource that the country has,
to the complete abolition of the state governments, and which will
introduce such an infinite number of laws and ordinances, fines and
penalties, courts, and judges, collectors, and excisemen, that when a
man can number them, he may enumerate the stars of Heaven.
I shall resume this subject in my next,4 and by an induction of par-
ticulars shew, that this power, in its exercise, will subvert all state au-
thority, and will work to the oppression of the people, and that there
are no restrictions in the constitution that will soften its rigour, but
rather the contrary.
1. On 27 November the New York Journal announced that "Brutus" V was received and
that it would "be attended to as soon as possible." "Brutus" V was reprinted in the Boston
American Herald, 31 December, and the Boston Independent Chronicle, 3 January 1788.
2. See the supremacy clause, Article VI, clause 2.
3. See "Brutus" III-IV, New York Journal, 15 and 29 November (both above).
4. See "Brutus" VI, ibid., 27 December (below).
Cato VI
New York Journal, 13 December 1787
On 6 December the printer of the New York Journal announced that "Cato"
VI was "received, and shall be attended to as soon as possible.-The AUTHOR
of Cato will doubtless excuse the Editor for having neglected to acknowledge
his sixth number, four days since, if he reflects upon the multiplicity of business
at this office." "Cato" VI was reprinted in the Daily Advertiser on 15 December.
To the PEOPLE of the State of NEW-YORK.
The next objection that arises against this proffered constitution is,
that the apportionment of representatives and direct taxes are un-
just.-The words as expressed in this article are, "representatives and
direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states, which may

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