What will be the conclusion? With a disposition
to invade the essential rights of the community, and with the means of
gratifying that disposition, is it presumable that the persons who were
actuated by it would amuse themselves in the ridiculous task of
fabricating election laws for securing a preference to a favorite class
of men? Would they not be likely to prefer a conduct better adapted to
their own immediate aggrandizement? Would they not rather boldly resolve
to perpetuate themselves in office by one decisive act of usurpation,
than to trust to precarious expedients which, in spite of all the
precautions that might accompany them, might terminate in the
dismission, disgrace, and ruin of their authors? Would they not fear
that citizens, not less tenacious than conscious of their rights, would
flock from the remote extremes of their respective States to the places
of election, to voerthrow their tyrants, and to substitute men who would
be disposed to avenge the violated majesty of the people?
PUBLIUS
1. Particularly in the Southern States and in this State.
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FEDERALIST No. 61
The Same Subject Continued
(Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members)
From the New York Packet.
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