Page:Essays on the Constitution of the United States, published during its discussion by the people 1787-1788.djvu/248

 236 A CITIZEN OF NEW HAVEN. taxation, if it should be thought to be expedient, but if requisi- tions be made and some states comply and others not, the non- complying states must be considered and treated as delinquents, which will tend to excite disaffection and disunion among the states, besides occasioning delay ; but if congress lay the taxes in the first instance these evils will be prevented, and they will doubt- less accommodate the taxes to the customs and convenience of the several states. Some suppose that the representation will be too small, but I think it is in the power of congress to make it too large, but I be- lieve that it may be safely trusted with them. Great Britian con- tains about three times the number of the inhabitants in the United States, and according to Burgh's account in his political disqui- sitions, the members of parliament in that kingdom do not exceed 131, and if 69 more be added from the principal cities and towns the number would be 200; and strike off those who are elected by the small boroughs, which are called the rotten part of the con- stitution by their best patriots and politicians, that nation would be more equally and better represented than at present ; and if that would be a sufficient number for their national legislature, one-third of that number will be more than sufficient for our federal legislature who will have few general matters to trans- act. But these and other objections have been considered in a former paper, before referred to. I shall therefore conclude this with my best wishes for the continuance of the peace, liberty and union of these states. A Citizen of New Haven. (236)