COMMENTARIES, 8 NOVEMBER 1787

dence in, and respect for the laws; and thereby induce the sensible and
virtuous part of the community to declare in favor of the laws, and to
support them without an expensive military force. I wish, though I
confess I have not much hope, that this may be the case with the laws
of Congress under the new Constitution. I am fully convinced that we
must organize the national government on different principles, and
make the parts of it more efficient, and secure in it more effectually
the different interests in the community; or else leave in the state gov-
ernments some powers proposed to be lodged in it-at least till such
an organization shall be found to be practicable. Not sanguine in my
expectations of a good federal administration, and satisfied, as I am, of
the impracticability of consolidating the states, and at the same time of
preserving the rights of the people at large, I believe we ought still to
leave some of those powers in the state governments, in which the
people, in fact, will still be represented-to define some other powers
proposed to be vested in the general government, more carefully, and
to establish a few principles to secure a proper exercise of the powers
given it. It is not my object to multiply objections, or to contend about
inconsiderable powers or amendments. (I wish the system adopted with
a few alterations; but those, in my mind, are essential ones; if adopted
without, every good citizen will acquiesce,)'3 though I shall consider
the duration of our governments, and the liberties of this people, very
much dependant on the administration of the general government. A
wise and honest administration, may make the people happy under any
government; but necessity only can justify even our leaving open ave-
nues to the abuse of power, by wicked, unthinking, or ambitious men.
I will examine, first, the organization of the proposed government in
order to judge; 2d. with propriety, what powers are improperly, at least
prematurely lodged in it. I shall examine, 3d, the undefined powers;
and 4th, those powers, the exercise of which is not secured on safe and
proper ground.
First. As to the organization-the house of representatives, the dem-
ocrative branch, as it is called, is to consist of 65 members; that is, about
one representative for fifty thousand inhabitants, to be chosen bien-
nially-the federal legislature may increase this number to one for
every thirty thousand inhabitants, abating fractional numbers in each
state.-Thirty-three representatives will make a quorum for doing busi-
ness, and a majority of those present determine the sense of the
house.-I have no idea that the interests, feelings, and opinions of
three or four millions of people, especially touching internal taxation,
can be collected in such a house.-In the nature of things, nine times
in ten, men of elevated classes in the community only can be chosen-

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