Page:Federalist, Dawson edition, 1863.djvu/746

 can have no benefit. This is confined to the citizens on the spot. They must therefore depend on the information of intelligent men, in whom they confide; and how must these men obtain their information? Evidently from the complexion of public measures, from the public prints, from correspondences with their Representatives, and with other persons who reside at the place of their deliberation. This does not apply to Montgomery county only, but to all the counties at any considerable distance from the seat of Government.

It is equally evident, that the same sources of information would be open to the People, in relation to the conduct of their Representatives in the General Government; and the impediments to a prompt communication which distance may be supposed to create, will be overbalanced by the effects of the vigilance of the State Governments. The Executive and Legislative bodies of each State will be so many sentinels over the persons employed in every department of the National administration; and as it will be in their power to adopt and pursue a regular and effectual system of intelligence, they can never be at a loss to know the behavior of those who represent their constituents in the National Councils, and can readily communicate the same knowledge to the People. Their disposition to apprise the community of whatever may prejudice its interests from another quarter, may be relied upon, if it were only from the rivalship of power. And we may conclude with the fullest assurance, that the People, through that channel, will be better informed of the conduct of their National Representatives, than they can be, by any means they now possess, of that of their State Representatives.

It ought also to be remembered, that the citizens who inhabit the country at and near the seat of Government will, in all questions that affect the general liberty and prosperity, have the same interest with those who are at