exemplum ab dignis et idoneis adindignos et non idoneos fertur.' When therefore it is confidered, that there is no legal obftacle to the afTumption by the affembly of all the powers legiflative, exe- cutive, and judiciary, and that thefe may come to the hands of the fmalleft rag of delegation, furely the people will fay, and their reprefentatives, while yet they have honeft reprefentatives, will advife them to fay, that they wall not acknowledge as laws any ads not confidered and aflented to by the major part of their delegates.
In enumerating the defefts of the con- flitution, it would be wrong to count among them what is only the error of par- ticular perfons. In December 1776, our circumftances being much diftreffed, it was propofed in the houfe of delegates to create a dilatory inverted with every power legif- lacive, executive and judiciary, civil and millitary, of life and of death, over our per- fons and over our properties: and in June 1 78 1, again under calamity, the famepro- pofition was repeated, and wanted a few votes only of being pafTed. One who entered into this contefl: from a pure love of liberty, and a fenfe of injured rights, who determined to make every facrifice, and to meet every danger, for the re-efla- blifliment of thofe rights