The Federalist Papers · Federalist No. 49 · paragraph 5
We found in the last paper, that mere declarations in the written constitution are not sufficient to restrain the several departments within their legal rights. It appears in this, that occasional appeals to the people would be neither a proper nor an effectual provision for that purpose. How far the provisions of a different nature contained in the plan above quoted might be adequate, I do not examine. Some of them are unquestionably founded on sound political principles, and all of them are framed with singular ingenuity and precision.Read in context ›
Publius · Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison · 1787–1788
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