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be influenced by the former. One hundred and bers, representing this commonwealth in one b Legislature, are drawn from the people at larg ever possess more influence than the few mer elected to the general Legislature. Those wh come Federal Representatives must depend with that class of men who will be the m their counties, who generally represent the State governments: they can, therefore, n any measure contrary to the wishes of those depend. So that, on the whole, it is almost deliberations of the members of the Federal sentatives will be directed to the interests America. As to the other branch, the appointed by the Legislatures, and, tho years, I do not conceive they will so so whence they derive their political exi: of one branch of the Federal, by t secures an absolute dependence o latter. The biennial exclusion of c facility of a combination, and pr intrigues. I appeal to our past will attend to the interests of Have not those gentlemen who seats in Congress often signali tachment to their States? Sir government will answer the ex foil the apprehensions of its the patriotism of the people cient guard to their libertie Constitution will be, that t teract the general intere

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free and independent: let your revenues depend on requisitions of proportionate quotas from them: let application be made to them repeatedly, and then ask yourself, is it to be presumed that they would comply, or that an adequate collection could be made from partial compliances? It is now difficult to collect the taxes from them: how much would that difficulty be enhanced, were you to depend solely on their generosity? I appeal to the reason of every gentleman here, and to his candor, to say whether he is not persuaded that the present confederation is as feeble as the government of Virginia would be in that case; to the same reason I appeal, whether it be compatible with prudence to continue a government of such manifest and palpable weakness and inefficiency.

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