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| --John Lansing-- |
Some very important powers are given to the latter, to be executed without the concurrence of the representative house. Now, if it was the design of the plan to make the Senate a kind of bulwark to the independence of the states, and a check to the encroachments of the general government, certainly the members of this body ought to be peculiarly under the control, and in strict subordination to the state who delegated them. In proportion to their want of dependence, they will lose their respect for the power from whom they receive their existence, and, consequently, will disregard the great object for which they are instituted."
Source: New York Ratifying Convention - 24 June, 1788
High and inspiring a pronouncement though Mr. Lansing's statement may be, we must recall that it was by unique grant of the Senate that all too soon thereafter George Washington laid 'district' jurisdictions over their States' territories on March 4th, 1791. Had the State Assemblies their fullest wits, the practice of Nullification should have gained immediate and great cashe' across the Land, in response. So much for the 'station' of Senators.
ReplyDeleteWith power always comes corruption.
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