1707. CONSTITUTION (The Federal), Theory of.—
The true theory of our Constitution
is surely the wisest and best, that the
States are independent as to everything within
themselves, and united as to everything respecting
foreign affairs. Let the General
Government be reduced to foreign concerns
only, and let our affairs be disentangled from
those of all other nations, except as to commerce,
which the merchants will manage the
better, the more they are left free to manage
for themselves, and our General Government
may be reduced to a very simple organization,
and a very inexpensive one; a few plain duties
to be performed by a few servants.—
To Gideon Granger. Washington ed. iv, 331.
Ford ed., vii, 451.
(M.
1800)
