Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/211

Rh perons who have exercied great employments; and in capital caes they alone have juridiction; and a cutom prevails with them, to give thoe who are tried for their lives a power of departing openly to voluntary banihment.

They have the power of conferring the magitracy upon thoe they think worthy of it, which is the mot honourable reward of merit any government can betow.

They have the power of rejecting and confirming laws, and determine concerning peace and war, alliances, accommodations, and conventions.

So that, from hence again, one may with reaon aert, that the people have the greatet hare in the government, and that the commonwealth is democratical.

Thee orders, into which the commonwealth is divided, have the power to oppoe, ait, and balance each other, as occaion may require.

Though the conul at the head of his army in the field, eems to have an abolute power to carry every thing he propoes into execution, yet he till tands in need of the people and enate, and without their aitance can effect nothing; for neither corn, clothes, nor pay, can be furnihed to the army without the conent of the enate; who have alo the power of fending another general to ucceed him, as oon as the year is expired, or of continuing him in the command. Again, they may either magnify and extol, or obcure and extenuate, the victories of the generals: for thee cannot celebrate their triumphs unles the enate conents to it, and furnihes the neceary expence.

As the power of putting an end to the war is in the people, the generals are under a neceity of having their approbation, who have the right of ratifying and annulling all accommodations and conventions.