1662. CONSTITUTION (The Federal), Approval of.—
I like much the general idea
of framing a government which should go on
of itself, peaceably, without needing continual
recurrence to the State Legislatures. I like
the organization of the government into Legislative,
Judiciary and Executive. I like the
power given the Legislature to leavy taxes,
and for that reason solely, I approve of the
greater House being chosen by the people directly.
For though I think a House chosen
by them will be very illy qualified to legislate
for the Union, for foreign nations, &c., yet
this evil does not weigh against the good of
preserving inviolate the fundamental principle
that the people are not to be taxed but by representatives
chosen immediately by themselves.
I am captivated by the compromise of
the opposite, claims of the great and little
States, of the latter to equal, and the former
to proportional influence. I am much pleased,
too, with the substitution of the method of
voting by persons instead of that of voting by
States: and I like the negative given to the
Executive, conjointly with a third of either
House; although I should have liked it better,
had the Judiciary been associated for that
purpose, or invested separately with a similar
power. There are other good things of less
moment.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. ii, 328.
Ford ed., iv, 475.
(P.
Dec. 20, 1787 )
