2804. EXECUTIVE, The Confederation and.—[further continued].
The idea of separating
the executive business of the Confederacy
from Congress, as the Judiciary is already in
some degree, is just and necessary. I had
frequently pressed on the members individually,
while in Congress, the doing this by
a resolution of Congress for appointing an
Executive committee to act during the sessions
of Congress, as the Committee of the
States was to act during their vacations. But
the referring to this Committee all executive
business, as it should present itself, would require
a more persevering self-denial than I
suppose Congress to possess. It will be much
better to make that separation by a Federal
act.—
To James Madison. Washington ed. ii, 152.
Ford ed., iv, 390.
(P.
June. 1787)
