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18

From the principle that the people or great body of
citizens in a free state are the sources of all legitimate
power in a government, it results that in them resides the
right of selecting, not only the men who mature the laws,
but the men who are to execute them. The government
of some of the New England colonies, from their first in-
stitution, recognized this right, and it is now recognized in
the constitution of the United States, as also by all the state
constitutions.

On the assumed principle, that the electors in a great
nation can know and will do what is right or expedient in
every case of exercising the elective franchise, this provi-
sion in a republican government is just and wise. But the
premises here supposed have not been found to exist in all
the experiments of elective governments ; and the factions
which have been generated by competitions for the high
office of chief magistrate, have produced such tremendous
evils, that most nations have a settled conviction that it is
better to trust to hereditary succession for a chief magistrate,
than to a popular election. The history of Poland furnishes
valuable materials for judging correctly on this subject.

The people of this country are making the experiment
of electing their chief magistrates and most of their execu-
tive officers. The result of this experiment is not finally
determined ; and prudence requires that we should not
confidently predict what the issue will be.

In the mean time, it may not be improper to suggest
some thoughts on the subject, with a view to call public
attention to the evils which exist, and to the remedy.

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