1541. CONGRESS, Lawyers in.—
I have
much doubted whether, in case of a war,
Congress would find it practicable to do their
part of the business. That a body containing
one hundred lawyers in it, should direct the
measures of a war, is, I fear, impossible; and
that thus that member of our Constitution,
which is its bulwark, will prove to be an
impracticable one from its cacoethes loquendi.
It may be doubted how far it has the power,
but I am sure it has not the resolution to
reduce the right of talking to practicable
limits.—
To President Madison.
Ford ed., ix, 337.
(M.
Feb. 1812)
