642. AUTHORITY, Source of.—
I consider
the source of authority with us to be
the Nation. Their will, declared through its
proper organ, is valid, till revoked by their
will declared through its proper organ again
also. Between 1776 and 1789, the proper organ
for pronouncing their will, whether legislative
or executive, was a Congress formed
in a particular manner. Since 1789, it is a
Congress formed in a different manner, for
laws, and a President, elected in a particular
way, for making appointments and doing
other executive acts. The laws and appointments
of the ancient Congress were as valid
and permanent in their nature, as the laws
of the new Congress, or appointments of the
new Executive; these laws and appointments,
in both cases, deriving equally their source
from the will of the Nation.—
To President Washington. Washington ed. iii, 332.
Ford ed., v, 437.
(Pa.,
1792)
