Ascribe to them the government of their
wards in all things relating to themselves exclusively. A justice,
chosen by themselves, in each, a constable, a military company, a
patrol, a school, the care of their own poor, their own portion of the
public roads, the choice of one or more jurors to serve in some court,
and the delivery, within their own wards, of their own votes for
all elective officers of higher sphere, will relieve the county
administration of nearly all its business, will have it better done, and
by making every citizen an acting member of the government, and in the
offices nearest and most interesting to him, will attach him by
his strongest feelings to the independence of his country, and its
republican constitution. The justices thus chosen by every ward, would
constitute the county court, would do its judiciary business, direct
roads and bridges, levy county and poor rates, and administer all the
matters of common interest to the whole county. These wards, called
townships in New England, are the vital principle of their governments,
and have proved themselves the wisest invention ever devised by the
wit of man for the perfect exercise of self-government, and for its
preservation. We should thus marshal our government into, 1. The general
federal republic, for all concerns foreign and federal; 2. That of the
State, for what relates to our own citizens exclusively; 3.
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