To be fearful of investing congress, constituted as that body is, with ample authorities for national purposes, appears to me the very climax of popular absurdity and madness.

Could congress exert them for the detriment of the people, without injuring themselves in an equal or greater proportion?
Are not their interests inseparably connected with those of their constituents?
By the rotation of appointment, must they not mingle frequently with the mass of citizens?
Is it not rather to be apprehended, if they were possessed of the powers before described, that the individual members would be induced to use them, on many occasions, very timidly and inefficaciously, for fear of losing their popularity and future election?
We must take human nature as we find it: perfection falls not to the share of mortals.

Many are of opinion that congress have too frequently made use of the suppliant humble tone of requisition in applications to the states, when they had a right to assert their imperial dignity, and command obedience.

Be that as it may, requisitions are a perfect nullity, where thirteen sovereign, independent, disunited states, are in the habit of discussing, and refusing or complying with them at their option.
Requisitions are actually little better than a jest and a bye-word throughout the land.

If you tell the legislatures they have violated the treaty of peace, and invaded the prerogatives of the confederacy, they will laugh in your face.