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strained by the others. For this reason that conven- 

 tion, which passed the ordinance of government, laid 

 its foundation on tiiis l)a.sis, thai the legishitive, execu- 

 tive an«l jndiciary departments should he separate and 

 distinct, so that no person shonid exercise the powers 

 of more than one of them at the same lime. But no 

 barrier was pro\ided between the several powers. 

 The jndiciary and executive members were icft de[>eti- 

 dant on the legishitive, for their subsistence in office, 

 and some of them for their continuance in it. If lliere- 

 fore the legislature assumes executive and judiciary 

 powers, no opposition is likely to he made ; rmr, if made, 

 can it be effectual: because in that case they may put 

 their proceedings into the form of an act of assembly, 

 wliich will render them obligatory on the other branch- 

 es. They have accordingly, in many instances, deci- 

 ded rights which slioidd have been left to judiciary 

 controversy ; and tln3 direction of the executive, dur- 

 ing the wh(de time of their session, is becoming habitu- 

 al and familiar. And this is done with no ill intention. 

 The views (;f the })resent members are perfectly up- 

 right. VVhen they are led out of their regular pro- 

 vince, it is by art in others, and inadvertence in them- 

 selves. And this will })rohably he the case for some 

 time to coine. Hut it will not be a very long time. 

 Mankind soon learn to make interested uses of every 

 right and [)0\ver which they possess, or njay assume. 

 The public money and public liherty, intended to have 

 been deposited with three branches of magistracy, but 

 found inadvertenrly to be in the hands of one only, will 

 soon be discovered to be sources of wealth and domin- 

 ion to those who hold them ; distinguished too by this 

 tempting circumstance, that they are the instrument, as 

 well as the object of acquisition. With tnoney we will 

 get men, said Cnesar, and witli iT)en we will get money. 

 Nor should our assend)ly he deluded by the integrity 

 of their own purposes, and conclude that these un- 

 limited powers will never be abused, becauje them- 

 selves are not disjiosed to abuse them. They should 

 look forward to a time, and that not a distant one, when 



