The Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson
By Subject
CONSTITUTION / UNITED STATES / GENERAL
I do not go as far in the reforms thought necessary, as some of my
correspondents in America; but if the convention should adopt such
propositions, I shall suppose them necessary. My general plan would
be, to make the States one as to everything connected with foreign
nations, and several as to everything purely domestic. But with all
the imperfections of our present government, it is without comparison
the best existing, or that ever did exist. Its greatest defect is the
imperfect manner in which matters of commerce have been provided for.
It has been' so often said, as to be generally believed, that Congress
have no power by the Confederation to enforce anything; for example,
contributions of money. It was not necessary to give them that power
expressly; they have it by the law of nature. When two parties make a
compact, there results to each a power of compelling the other to
execute it. Compulsion was never so easy as m our case, where a single
frigate would soon levy on the commerce of any State the deficiency of
its contributions; nor more safe than in the hands of Congress, which
has always shown that it would wait; as it ought to do, to the last
extremities, before it. would execute any of its powers which are
disagree able. I think it very material, to separate, in the hands of
Congress, the executive and legislative powers, as the judiciary
already are, in some degree. This, I hope, will be done. The want of
it has been the source of more evil than we have experienced from any
other cause. Nothing is so embarrassing nor so mischievous, in a great
assembly, as the details of execution. The smallest trifle of that
kind occupies as long as the most important act of legislation, and
takes place of everything else. Let any man recollect, or look over,
the files of Congress; he will observe the most important propositions
hanging over, from week to week, and month to month, till the
occasions have passed them, and the things never done. I have ever
viewed the executive details as the greatest cause of evil to us,
because they in fact place us as if we had no federal head, by
diverting the attention of that head from great to small subjects; and
should this division of power not be recommended by the convention, it
is my opinion Congress should make it itself, by establishing an
executive committee.
to Edward Carrington, 4 August 1787
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