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Alexander Hamilton.

Federalist: a collection of essays, written in favor of the new Constitution ..

. (page 4 of 53)

finally transform it into a tyrannical aristocracy,"

considered, 442

i. the impossibility of such a result averred and dis-
cussed, 443

ii. the organization of the Senate of Maryland re-
ferred to, 443

iii. the organization of the two Houses of the British

Parliament, 444

iv. the examples of the ancient republics referred to,. 444

i. Sparta and her Ephori, 444

ii. Rome and her Tribunes, 444

iii. Carthage and her Senate, 445

V. the controlling influence of the House of Repre-
sentatives 445

E. " the powers vested in the Senate," LXHI. 446

a. the treaty-making power, 446

i. the great importance of that power, 44G

ii. the authority to exercise it vested in those who

will be best qualified to exercise it, 446

iii. a popular assembly does not possess such qualifi-
cations, 447

I. an intimate acquaintance with public aflairs ne-
cessary, 447

ii. secrecy and despatch are often required, 449

iv. objections to this part of the proposed Constitution

considered, 450

i. that the treaty-making power has not been dele-
gated to men invested with legislative author-
ity, 450

ii. that treaties so entered into are to be of supreme

authority, 451

iii. that treaties so entered into are not repealable

at pleasure, like Acts of Assembly, 451

iv. that they may be made instruments of oppres-
sion, 451

V. thatproper guards against corruption are wanting, 452

A. the responsibility of senators considered, 452

V. concluding remarks, 458

6. the appointing of public officers, LXIV. 453

c. its authority as a court for the trial of impeach-
ments, 453

i. the difficulty in forming such a court, in an elective
government, 453



xl Contents.

Essay. Page

ii. the subjects of its jurisdiction render the trust a

delicate one, No. LXIV. 453

iii. the Senate the most fit depositary of that trust, . . 454
iv. the propriety of delegating that authority to the

Supreme Court considered, 455

t that court will not possess the fortitude, credit,
and authority requisite to the execution of the

duties of the trust, 455

tV. the membership of the Supreme Court will be

too limited, 456

iii. as the punishment inflicted by the Court of Im-
peachment will not terminate the proceedings,
it will be improper to bring the offender twice

before the same court, 456

V the propriety of a junction of the Supreme Court
with the Senate in this trust, considered and de-
nied, 457

vi. the propriety of delegating this authority to those
who are wholly disconnected with other depart-
ments of the government, considered and denied, 458
vii. the proposed Constitution should not be rejected
for that cause, even if this feature is not the

most desirable, 459

viii. objections to this portion of the new Constitu-
tion considered, LXV. 400

i. it unites legislative and judicial authority in the

same body, 460

A. the inconsistency of those who raise the ob-
jection while they admire the constitution
of New York, in which similar provisions

exist 461

ii, it contributes to an undue accumulation of pow-
er in the Senate, and tend>! toward the estab-
lishment of an aristocracy, 461

iii. as an appointing power, the Senate will be too
lenient judges of the conduct of those whom

they shall have appointed to office, 463

iv. as a treaty-making power, the Senate may be
called to try themselves for corrupt or perfidi-
ous action, 465

d. the Executive department, LXVI. 467

A. the misrepresentations of this subject considered, 467

B. the mode of electing the President considered,

LXVII. 472
a, the only part of the new Constitution which its oppo-
nents do not condemn, 472



Contents, xli

' Essay. Page

6. " it is pretty well guarded," No. LXVII. ^73

c. "it was desirable that tlie sense of the People should

operate in the choice," 473

d. it was desirable that the choice should be made by

competent persons 473

c. it was desirable to avoid tumult and disorder, 473

/ it was desirable to avoid cabal, intrigue, and corrup-
tion, 474

g. it was desirable to maintain the independence of the

President on all but the People themselves, 475

h. " all these advantages will happily combine " in the

proposed Constitution, 475

t. the choice will seldom fall on one who will not be

qualified, 475

C the choice of a Vice-President by the People consid-
ered and approved, 476

D. " the real cliaracters of the proposed Executive " con-

siderril generall}^ LXVIII. 477

a. the executive authority is delegated, generally, to



one person.



477



i. compared with King of Great Britain, 478

ii. compared with Governor of New York 478

6. he is elected for four years, and is reeligible, 478

i. compared with King of Great Britain, 478

ii. compared witli Governor of New York, 478

c. he is liable to impeachment, trial, removal from of-

fice, and subsequent punishment by the civil

law, 478

i. compared with King of Great Britain, 478

ii. compared with Governor of New York, 478

iii. compared with the Governors of Maryland and
Delaware, 478

d. he has the power of vetoing any measure passed by

Congress, 479

i. his authority in this case compared with that of

the King of Great Britain, 479

ii. his authority in this case compared with that of

the Council of Revision in New York, 479

iii. his authority in this case compared with that of

the Governor of New York, 479

iv. his authority in this case compared with that of

the Governor of Massachusetts, 479

e. he is commander-in-chief of the militia, when in the

Foederal service, 480

i. his authority in this case compared with that of
the King of Great Britain, 480



xlii Contents.

Essay. Page
ii. his authority in this case compared with that of

the Governor of New York, No. LXVIII. 480

f. he is commander-in-chief of the army and navy of

tlie United States 480

i. his autliority tlierein compared witli that of the

King of Great Britain, 480

ii. his authority therein compared with tliat of the

Governor of New Yorl<, 480

iii. his authority therein compared witli that of the
Governors of New Hampshire and Massachu-
setts, 481

g. his power to pardon offenders against the laws, 481

i. liis authority tlierein compared with that of the

Governor of New York, 481

h. his power, in one case, to adjourn the Congress,. . . . 482
i. his power therein compared with that of the King

of Great Britain, 482

ii. his power therein compared with that of tlie Gov-
ernor of New York, 482

t. his treaty-making power, .... 482

i. his power therein compared witli tlsat of the King

of Great Britain, 482

j. his power to receive ambassadors and public ministers, 483
k. his power, in connection witli the Senate, to appoint

ambassadors and other ministers, 483

i. his power therein compared with that of the King

of Great Britain 484

ii. his power therein compared witli that of the Gov-
ernor of New York 484

I. the general authority of the President reviewed, and
compared with that of the Governor of New

York, 485

m. the general authority of the President reviewed, and

compared with that of the King of Great Britain,.. 485
E. the provisions of the new Constitution, concerning the

Executive, further considered, LXIX. 486

a. the idea that a vigorous executive is inconsistent
with the genius of republican government exam-
ined and refuted, 486

h. " the ingredients which constitute energy in the Ex-
ecutive " considered, 487

i. unity 488

i. it has been approved by the soundest political

writers 488

ii. it is indisputably conducive to energy, 488

iii. in what manner it may be destroyed, 488



Contents. xliii

Essay. Page

A. by vesting the authority in two or more mag-

istrates, No. LXIX. 488

B. by making tlie authority subject to the coop-

eration and control of a council, 488

a. plurality of magistrates considered, 489

b. the controlling authority of a council con-

sidered, 491

C- the argument reviewed and concluded, 491

1. plurality removes responsibility and de-

stroys the force of popular opinion, 492

2. it tends to concealment of wrong-doing,. 492

3. councils are unnecessary where the mag-

istrate is personally responsible, 494

4. plurality in the Executive will be more

dangerous to liberty, 495

5. plurality will be more expensive,..- 496

duration in office of the Executive, LXX. 496

i, it affects his personal firmness in the employ-
ment of his constitutional powers, 496

A. more interest will be felt in that which is
permanent, 497

B. subserviency to popular impulses not desira-
ble in the Executive, 497

C. subserviency to the humors of the legislature

equally improper, 498

D. independence of the several departments of

government necessary, 499

E. shortness of the term of office will affect the
independence of the Executive, 500

p. a term of four years compared with longer

and shorter terms, 500

It. it affects the stability of his system of adminis-
tration, LXXI. 502

A. the term "administration of government"

defined, 502

B. the heads of foreign, finance, militarj', and

naval departments are only " assistants or
deputies of the cliief magistrate," and ought
to be appointed by him and be subject to his
superintendence, 502

C. changes in the Executive will produce, pri-

marily, changes in these departments, and,
ultimately, changes in the system of admin-
istration, 503

in. the reeligibility of the Executive considered, . . . 503
A. the opposition thereto considered, 503



xliv Contents.



Essay. Page

B. the effects of confining the eligibility to a

single term No. LXXI. 504

a. the inducements to good behavior would be

diminished, 504

b. temptations would be offered to selfishness,

peculation, and usurpation, 504

C. it would deprive the country of experi-
ence in the magistracy, 505

d. it would deprive the country of the servi-

ces of those who can be most useful in
cases of emergency, 506

e. it would operate as a constitutional inter-

diction of stability in the administration,. 606

C. an examination of the supposed advantages

of such a limitation of eligibility, 507

a. greater independence in the magistracy,. . . 507

b. greater security to the People, 507

D. conclusions, on the impropriety of confining
the choice of tlie People, when incumbents
are qualified, to other and inexperienced can-
didates, 508

iii. an adequate provision for its support, LXXII. 508

i. without such a provision the Executive would

be at the mercy of the legislature, 509

u. the independence of tlie Executive cannot be

impaired, 509

iv. competent powers, 510

i. the power of returning bills to the legislature

â– without approval 510

A. the propensity of the legislature to usurp

authority considered, 510

B. the propriety of delegating this authority to

the Executive considered, 510

a. to defend the Executive from legislative

aggressions, 510

b. to defend tiie People from improper legisla-

tion, 511

C. objection, that " one man cannot possess more

wisdom and virtue than a number of men,"
considered, 511

D. objection, that " the power of preventing bad
laws includes tliat of preventing good ones,"
considered, "'â– ^

E. the influence of tlie legislature will prevent

the frequent and incautious use of this

..512
power, "**



Contents. xlv

Essay. Page
p. the greater danger is that it will not be used at
all times when it may be employed usefully,.

No. LXXII. 513
G. the power not being absolute, two thirds of the

legislature may successfully resist it, 614

a, a similar power delegated to the " Council

of Revision " in New York, 515

b. the Governor of Massachusetts possesses a

power similar to that which is here dele-
gated to the Executive, 515

C. the latter preferable to the former, 515

II. the command of the military and naval forces of

the Union, LXXIII. 516

Hi. to require opinions of heads of the executive

departments, 516

IV. the power of pardoning offenders against the

laws of the Union, 517

A. the propriety of delegating it to a single per-
son considered, 517

B. the propriety of delegating authority to the

President to pardon traitors considered, 517

V. in connection with the Senate, to make treaties,

LXXIV. 51.9
A. one of the best digested features of the pro-
posed Constitution, 519

B- objection, tliat it unites the executive and

legislative departments, considered, 520

a. it is a proper combination of the two depart-

ments, 520

b. it is not entirely an executive, nor is it en-

tirely a legislative subject, but combines

the nature of both, 520

C. it cannot properly be delegated to an elec-
tive Executive alone, 521

d. it cannot properly be delegated to the Sen-

ate alone, 522

e. the House of Representatives cannot prop-

erly be admitted to share in that power,. . 523

C. objection, that two thirds of all the Senators

should be required, instead of two thirds of

those present, considered, 523

»i. in connection with the Senate, to appoint certain
public officers, LXXV. 525

A. this feature of the proposed Constitution is

entitled to particular commendation, 526

B. the People at large cannot exercise this power, 526



xlvi Contents.



Essay. Page

C. the President will usually be a man of abil-

ity, No. LXXV. 527

D. the delegation of tliis authority to one man

will beget a livelier sense of duty and greater
regard to reputation than the delegation of it
to many, 527

E. objection, that it should have been delegated

solely to the President, considered, 528

a. all the advantages desired to be gained

thereby will be secured by the proposed
plan, 528

b. the fact that his choice may be overruled by

the Senate considered, 529

C. the necessary concurrence of the Senate
will afibrd a check on the favoritism of the

President, 529

p. objection, that the President thereby may se-
cure the complaisance of the Senate to his
views, considered, 530

a. the integrity of the whole body of the Sen-

ate will check such a result, 531

b. the proposed Constitution has guarded

against it, 531

G. the consent of the Senate will be necessary
to displace as well as to appoint officers of

the government, LXXVI. 532

a. further stability will thereby be secured to

the government, 532

H. objection, that the Senate will be unduly

controlled by the President, considered, 533

I. objection, that the President will be unduly

controlled by the Senate, considered, 533

J. this feature of the proposed Constitution com-
pared with the plan of appointing State offi-
cers in New York, 534

K. the impropriety of delegating this authority

to a council of appointment, 535

L. the impropriety of admitting the House of

Eepresentatives to share in this authority, . . 536
vii. to communicate information to Congress on the

state of the Union, 536

viii. to recommend to Congress the adoption of such

measures as he shall consider expedient, 537

ix. to convene one or both branches of the Con-
gress on extraordinary occasions, 637

X. to adjourn the Congress when there is a dis-



Contents. xlvii

I

Essay. Page
agreement concerning the time of adjourn-
ment, No. LXXVI. 537

xi. to receive ambassadors and other public minis-
ters, 537

xii. to execute the laws of tlie Union 537

xiii. to commission all the officers of the United

States, 537

F. concluding remarks, 537

e. the Judiciary department, LXXVIII. 538

A. " the mode of appointing the judges," considered,. . . . 539

B. "the tenure by which the judges are to hold their

places " considered, 539

a. it is similar to that by which the judges in the sev-

eral States hold office, 539

b. objection thereto considered, 539

i. the Judiciary will be least in a capacity to annoy

the other departments of the government, 539

ii. it is the weakest of the three departments of gov-
ernment, 540

c. the necessity for a complete independence of the Ju-

diciary, {)41

i. the authority of the courts to pronounce legisla-
tive acts void because contrary to the Constitu-
tion, considered, 541

ii. the exercise of that authority does not indicate

that the Judiciary is superior to the legislature, . . 541

iii. that the legislature is the constitutional judge of

its own powers, considered and denied, 542

ir. the interpretation of the laws is the peculiar prov-
ince of the courts, 542

i. the effect of that interpretation on the action of

the courts, 542

V. that consideration a reason for the permanent ten-
ure of the Judiciary, 544

vi. independence of the Judiciary also necessary in
order that it may guard the Constitution and
the rights of individuals from sudden impulses
of popular passion and prejudice, 544

vii. as well as the private rights of individuals from

the mischievous effects of unjust and partial laws, 545

viii. it is necessary, also, to insure an inflexible and
uniform adherence to the rights of the Consti-
tution and of individuals, 546

ix. and from the nature of the qualifications which
are required for the discharge of its duties, 546

d. the wisdom of the provision establishing good be-



xlviii Contents.

1

Essay . Page
havior as the tenure of oflRce in the Judiciary de-
partment considered as conducive to its indepen-
dence, No. LXXVIII. 547

c. a fixed provision for the support of the Judiciary

also contributes to its independence, LXXIX. 548

i. " a power over a man's subsistence amounts to a

power over his will," 548

ii. the provisions of the proposed Constitution on this

subject stated 548

f. the responsibility of the Judiciary considered, 550

i. it will be liable to impeachments under the proposed

Constitution, 550

ii. it is not liable to removal for inability, 550

i. the impossibihty of fixing the limits of ability and

disability, 550

ii. the provisions of the constitution of New York

considered, 550

g. the extent of the authority delegated to the Judi-
ciary, LXXX. 551

i. to what cases the judicial authority of the Union

ought to extend, considered, 551

i. to aH cases arising from the duly enacted laws of

the Union, 552

A. the necessity of a constitutional method of

giving eflBcacy to constitutional provisions,.. 552

B- exami)les referred to, 552

ii. to all cases which concern the execution of the
provisions expressly contained in the articles

of Union, 553

Hi. to all cases in which the United States are a party, 553
iv. to all cases which involve the peace of the con-
federacy, 553

A. in their foreign relations, 553

B. wherein two States, or a State and the citi-

zens of another State, or the citizens of dif-
ferent States, are parties, 554

V to all cases which originate on the high seas,

and are of admiralty or maritime jurisdiction, . 555
vi. to all cases wherein the State tribunals cannot

be supposed to be impartial and unbiased,. . . . 555
ii. to what cases it will extend under the proposed

Constitution, 556

i. the constitutional provision stated generally, 556

ii. the powers thus delegated " conformable to the
principles which ouqhl to have governed the
structure of the Judiciary," 556



Contents. xlix

Kssay. Page
Hi. the propriety of delegating " equity jurisdic-
tion" discussed, No. LXXX. 557

iii. concluding remarks, 558

C. " the partition of the judiciary authority between dif-
ferent courts, and their relations to each other," ....

LXXXI. 559

a. the constitutional provision stated, 559

b. the propriety of establishing " one court of supreme

and final jurisdiction " considered, 560

i. the propriety of delegating that authority to a dis-
tinct department, considered, 560

i. that " the errors and usurpations of such a body
will be unaccountable and remediless " con-
sidered, 560

A. the proposed Constitution does not " directly
empower the Judiciary to construe the laws
according to the spirit of tlie Constitution," 561
ii. it secures more completely the separation of the

Judiciary from the legislature, 561

iii. it. recognizes more fully the principle of good

behavior as the tenure of judicial office, 562

iv. it secures greater legal abihty in the determina-
tion of causes, 562

V. it removes the Judiciary from the arena of party

strife, 562

vi. the example of several States considered, 562

ii. no legislature can rectify the exceptionable de-
cisions of the courts in any other sense than by

prescribing a rule for future action, 563

iii, the " supposed danger of judiciary enci'oachments

on the legislative authority " considered, 563

c. "the propriety of the power of constituting inferior

courts " considered, 564

i. " it obviates the necessity of having recourse to
the Supreme Court in every case of Foederal

cognizance," 564

ii. why the same purpose may not be accomplished
by the instrumentality of the State courts con-
sidered, 565

iii. the advantage to be gained by dividing the United

States into judicial districts, 566

d. "in what manner the judicial authority is to be dis-

tributed between the Supreme and the inferior

courts of the Union," 566

i. the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court con-
sidered, 666



Contents.

Essay. Pago
{. the Foederal courts have no authority to enforce
the payment of their debts by tlie individual

States, No. LXXXI. 567

ii. the original, jurisdiction of the inferior courts

considered, 568

iii. the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Comrt

considered, 568

t. the meaning of the term "appellate" dis-
cussed 568

ii. a review of matters of fact by the Supreme
Court not to be impUed as a necessary conse-
quence, 569

iii. the motives which probably influenced the
Convention in relation to this particular provi-
sion, 570

iv. the Congress will have authority to restrain the
Supreme Court from reexamining matters of

fact, 570

V, concluding remarks, 571

the jurisdiction of the State courts on Foederal ques-
tions considered, LXXXII. 571

i. the individual States "will retain all preexisting au-
thorities which may not be exclusively delegated

to the Foederal head," 572

t. in what that " exclusive delegation " consists, . . . 572
ii. "the State courts will retain the jurisdiction they
now have, unless it appears to be taken away by

exclusive delegation," 572

i. "the concurrent jurisdiction of the State tribu-
nals the most natural and defensible construc-
tion " of the Constitution, 573

ii. this is " only clearly applicable to those descrip-
tions of causes of which the State courts had



previous cognizance,



573



i. the decision of causes arising upon a particular

regulation may be committed by the Congress to

the Foederal courts solely, if it desires to do so, 573

t. this will not divest the State courts of any part

of their /)»-/»»7u-e jurisdiction, further than may

relate to an appeal, 578

ii. nor, except where expressly excluded, of their
right to take cognizance of the causes to which

those particular regulations may give birth, 574-

r. the relation which will subsist between tlie State
and the Foederal courts in instances of concur-
rent jurisdiction, 574



Contents.



i. an appeal will lie from the State courts to the

Supreme Court of the United States,

No . LXXXII. 574
ii. the appellate jurisdiction of the inferior Fceder-

al courts, in such cases, considered, ... 575

D. objection, that no provision has been introduced into
the proposed Constitution to establish the right of
trial by jury in civil cases, considered, . . . .LXXXIII. 576

a. the disingenuous form of the objection considered,. . 577

i. the silence of the Constitution on this subject, 577

ii. rules of legal interpretation appUcable to this case,

considered, 577

iii. " a power to constitute courts is a power to pre-
scribe the mode of trial " therein, 578

iv. concluding remarks, 578

b. the proper use and true meaning of the maxims on

â– which the objection rests, 579

c. the importance of tlie right of trial by jury considered, 581

i. its importance in criminal cases conceded, 581

ii. its I'elative unimportance in civil cases maintained, 581

i. a safeguard against undue taxation, denied, 582

ii. it affords security against official corruption, . . . 583
iii. it is useful in settling questions of property, . . . 584
iii. the extent to which juries are employed in differ-
ent States, 584

d. " no general rule could have been fixed upon by the

Convention which would have corresponded with

the circumstances of all the States," 586

c. " as much might have been hazarded by taking the
system of any one State as a standard, as by omit-
ting it altogether " and leaving it to the Congress,. 586



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