A government held together by the bands of reason only,
requires much compromise of opinion; that things even salutary should
not be crammed down the throats of dissenting brethren, especially when
they may be put into a form to be willingly swallowed, and that a great
deal of indulgence is necessary to strengthen habits of harmony and
fraternity. In such a case, it seems to me it would be safer and wiser
to ask an express grant of the power. This would render its exercise
smooth and acceptable to all, and insure to it all the facilities which
the could contribute, to prevent that kind of abuse which all will fear,
because all know it is so much practised in public bodies, I mean the
bartering of votes. It would reconcile every one, if limited by the
proviso, that the federal proportion of each State should be expended
within the State. With this single security against partiality and
corrupt bargaining, I suppose there is not a State, perhaps not a man
in the Union, who would not consent to add this to the powers of the
General Government. But age has weaned me from questions of this kind.
My delight is now in the passive occupation of reading; and it is
with great reluctance I permit my mind ever to encounter subjects of
difficult investigation. You have many years yet to come of vigorous
activity, and I confidently trust they will be employed in cherishing
every measure which may foster our brotherly union, and perpetuate a
constitution of government destined to be the primitive and precious
model of what is to change the condition of man over the globe.
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