The judiciary and executive members were left dependant on the legiflative, for their fubfiftence in office, and fome of them for their continuance in it. If therefore the legiflature aflumes executive and judiciary powers, no oppofition is hkely to be made; nor, if made, can it be effedual: becaufe in that cafe they may put their proceedings into the form of an adl of aflembly, which will render them obligatory on the other branches. They have accordingly, in many in fiances, decided rights which fhould have been left to judiciary controverfy: and the di- redion of the executive, during the whole time of their feffion, is becoming habitual and familiar. And this is done with no ill intention. The views of the prefent members are perfedly upright. When they are led out of their regular province, it is by art in others, and inadvertence in themfelves. And this ^yill probably be the cafe for fome time to come. But it will not be a very long time. Mankind foon learn to make interefted ufes of every right and power which they poffefs, or may aflume. The public money and pub- lic liberty, intended to have been depo- fited with three branches of magiftracy, but found inadvertently to be in the hands of one only, will foon be difcovered to be fources of w^ealth and dominion to thofe who hold them; diftinguilhed too by this tempting circumftance, that they are the inftrument, as well as the objeft of acquifition. With money we will get men, faid Caefar, and with men we will get money. Nor fliould our aflembly be deluded by the integrity of their own pur- pofes, and conclude that thefe unlimited powers will never be abufed, becaufe themfelves are not difpofed to abufe them.
They lliould look forward to a time, and that not a diftant one, when a corruption in this, as in the country from which we derive our origin, will have feized the heads of government, and be fpread by them through the body of the people; when they will purchafe the voices of the people, and make them pay the price. Human nature is the fame on every fide of the Atlantic, and will be alike influ- enced by the fame caufes. The dme to guard againft corruption and tyranny, is before they fliall have gotten hold on us.