282 statisticad notices of N. America. Dec.-¥9, 
“¢ Are the.sentences of your judges peaceably ex- 
ecuted? or do appeals and resistance often hap- 
pen 279 
] believe there have been very few instances 
throughout America, of resistance to .the lowest 
cfticers of civil government, since the conclusion of 
the war. The principal fault in the executive of 
New Jersey, is to be observed in the fheriff’s office. 
These offices being appointed by the people, are often, 
through a desire of popularity, too dilatory and, indyl- 
gent in executing the sentences of the court. 
** Do your‘people respect their magistrates more 
on account of their being elected by themselves ?” 
if they have not a greater reverence for the splen- 
‘dour of their power, I believe they have-a greater 
confidence in the equity, and mildnefs of its exercise. 
‘The principal fault in the appointment of the ma- 
-gistracy in some-of the states, 1s, that justices of the 
peace, and the inferior officers, are too tmmediately 
dependent on the suffrage of the people. ‘Yhey are not 
appointed by the executive branch of the govern- 
ment; and they do not hold their offices during good 
behaviour, but during pleasure, or for certain limited 
periods. 
*¢ Does a jealousy of Congrefs prevail among you ? 
or are the powers of Congrefs properly defined ?” 
The several states have hitherto been too jealous, 
not of what Congres is, but of what it may be in a 
future period. That is the reason: that although 
their powers are defined by explicit articles of con- 
federation, yet they appear to be too much. limited, 
