Page:Essays on the Constitution of the United States, published during its discussion by the people 1787-1788.djvu/249

 A CITIZEN OF NEW HAVEN, II. THE NEW HAVEN GAZETTE. (Nuinber 51) Thursday, December 25, 1788. Observations on the New Federal Constitution. In order to form a good Constitution of Government, the legis- lature should be properly organized, and be vested with plenary powers for all the purposes for which the government was insti- tuted, to be exercised for the public good as occasion may re- quire. The greatest security that a people can have for the enjoyment of the" rights and liberties, is that no laws can be made to bind them nor any taxes imposed upon them, without their consent by representatives of their own chusing, who will participate with them in the public burthens and benefits; this was the great point contended for in our controversy with Great Britain, and this will be fully secured to us by the new constitution. The rights of the people will be secured by a representation in proportion to their numbers in one branch of the legislature, and the rights of the particular states by their equal representation in the other branch. The President and Vice-President as well as the members of Congress will be eligible for fixed periods, and may be re-elected as often as the electors shall think fit, which will be a great se- curity for their fidelity in office, and give greater stability and energ)- to gcnernmcnt than an exclusion by rotation, and will be an operative and effectual security against arbitrary government, either monarchial or aristocratic. (237) (237)