1. DEBATE OVER CONSTITUTION

miracles.2 You begin with some gratis dicta, which are denied; you as-
sume premises which are totally false, and then reason on them with great
address. Your whole reasoning, and that of all the opposers of the Fed-
eral Government, is built on this false principle, that the Federal Legislature
will be a body distinct from and independent of the people. Unless your
opposition is grounded on that principle, it stands on nothing, and on
any other supposition, your arguments are but declamatory nonsense.
But the principle is false. The Congress, under the proposed Con-
stitution, will have the same interest as the people-they are a part of
the people-their interest is inseparable from that of the people; and
this union of interest will eternally remain, while the right of election
shall continue in the people. Over this right Congress will have no
control: the time and manner of exercising that right are very wisely
vested in Congress, otherwise a delinquent State might embarrass the
measures of the Union. The safety of the public requires that the Fed-
eral body should prevent any particular delinquency;3 but the right of
election is above their control: it must remain in the people, and be
exercised once in two, four or six years. A body thus organized, with
thirteen Legislatures watching their measures, and several millions of
jealous eyes inspecting their conduct, would not be apt to betray their
constituents. Yet this is not the best ground of safety. The first and
almost only principle that governs men, is interest. Love of our country is
a powerful auxiliary motive to patriotic actions; but rarely or never
operates against4 interest. The only requisite to secure liberty, is to con-
nect the interest of the Governors with that of the governed. Blend these
interests-make them inseparable-and both are safe from voluntary
invasion. How shall this union be formed? This question is answered.
The union is formed by the equal principles on which the people of
these States hold their property and their rights. But how shall this
union of interests be perpetuated? The answer is easy-bar all perpe-
tuities of estates-prevent any exclusive rights-preserve all prefer-
ment dependent on the choice of the people-suffer no power to exist
independent of the people or their Representatives. While there exists
no power in a State, which is independent on the will of the electors,
the rights of the people are secure. The only barrier against tyranny,
that is necessary in any State, is the election of Legislators by the yeomanry
of that State. Preserve that, and every privilege is safe. The Legislators
thus chosen to represent the people, should have all the power that
the people would have, were they assembled in one body to deliberate
upon public measures. The distinction between the powers of the people
and of their Representatives in the Legislature, is as absurd in theory, as

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