“Let us now proceed to enquire, as I at first proposed, whether it be best the thirteen United States should be reduced to one g
reat republic, or not? It is here taken for granted, that all agree in this, that whatever government we adopt, it ought to be a free one; that it should be so framed as to secure the liberty of the citizens of America, and such an one as to admit of a full, fair, and equal representation of the people. The question then will be, whether a government thus constituted, and founded on such principles, is practicable, and can be exercised over the whole United States,
reduced into one state?...
In a free republic, although all laws are derived from the consent of the people, yet the people do not declare their consent by themselves in person, but by representatives, chosen by them, who are 2 supposed to know the minds of their constituents, and to be possessed of integrity to declare this mind....
The territory of the United States is of vast extent; it now contains near three millions of souls, and is capable of containing much more than ten times that number. Is it practicable for a country, so large and so numerous as they will soon become, to elect a representation, that will speak their sentiments, without their becoming so numerous as to be incapable of transacting public business? It certainly is not….
The laws cannot be executed in a republic, of an extent equal to that of the United States, with promptitude [act without delay].
-- Brutus, Brutus No. 1, 1787
Who was the author of this quote?
