The further the
departure from direct and constant control by the citizens, the less has
the government of the ingredient of republicanism; evidently none
where the authorities are hereditary, as in France, Venice, &c. or
self-chosen, as in Holland; and little, where for life, in proportion as
the life continues in being after the act of election.
The purest republican feature in the government of our own State, is the
House of Representatives. The Senate is equally so the first year, less
the second, and so on. The Executive still less, because not chosen by
the people directly. The Judiciary seriously anti-republican, because
for life; and the national arm wielded, as you observe, by military
leaders, irresponsible but to themselves. Add to this the vicious
constitution of our county courts (to whom the justice, the executive
administration, the taxation, police, the military appointments of the
county, and nearly all our daily concerns are confided), self-appointed,
self-continued, holding their authorities for life, and with an
impossibility of breaking in on the perpetual succession of any faction
once possessed of the bench. They are, in truth, the executive, the
judiciary, and the military of their respective counties, and the sum
of the counties makes the State. And add, also, that one half of our
brethren who fight and pay taxes, are excluded, like Helots, from the
rights of representation, as if society were instituted for the soil,
and not for the men inhabiting it; or one half of these could dispose of
the rights and the will of the other half, without their consent.
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