§；1215。Andyetthisclausedidnotescapethecommonfateofmostofthepowersofthenationalgovernment。Itwasrepresented，aspeculiarlydangerous。Itmay，itwassaid，becomeasoftofpublicsanctuary，withexclusiveprivilegesandimmunitiesofeverysort。Itmaybetheveryspotfortheestablishmentoftyranny，midofrefugeoftheoppressorsofthepeople。Theinhabitantswillbeanswerabletonolaws，exceptthoseofcongress。Apowerfularmymaybeherekeptonfoot；andthemostoppressiveandsanguinarylawsmaybepassedtogovernthedistrict。5Nay，atthedistanceoffourteenyearsaftertheconstitutionhadquietlygoneintooperation，andthispowerhadbeenacteduponwithamoderation，ascommendable，asitoughttobesatisfactory，alearnedcommentatorexpressedregretattheextentofthepower，andintimatedinnoinexplicittermshisfearsforthefuture。\"Asystemoflaws，\"sayshe，\"incompatiblewiththenatureandprinciplesofarepresentativedemocracy，thoughnotlikelytobeintroducedatonce，maybematuredbydegrees，anddiffuseitsinfluencethroughthestates，andfinallylaythefoundationofthemostimportantchangesinthenatureofthefederalgovernment。Letforeignersbeenabledtoholdlands，andtransmitthembyinheritance，ordevise；letthepreferencetomales，andtherightsorprimogenitureherevivedwiththedoctrineofentails；andaristocracywillneitherwantaladdertoclimbby，norabaseforitssupport。6\"
§；1216。Whatasuperstructuretobeerectedonsuchanarrowfoundation！Severalorthestatesnowpermitforeignerstoholdandtransmitlands；andyettheirlibertiesarenotoverwhelmed。
ThewholeSouth，beforetherevolution，allowedandcherishedthesystemofprimogeniture；andyettheypossessed，andtransmittedtotheirchildrentheircolonialrightsandprivileges，andachievedunderthisverysystemtheindependenceofthecountry。Thesystemofentailsisstillthelawofseveralofthestates；andyetnodangerhasyetassailedthem。Theypossess，andenjoythefruitsofrepublicanindustryandfrugality，withoutanylandedorotheraristocracy。Andyetthepettydistrictoftenmilessquareistooverruleinitspolicyandlegislationall，thatisvenerableandadmirableinstatelegislation！Thestates，andthepeopleofthestatesarerepresentedincongress。Thedistricthasnorepresentativesthere；
butissubjectedtotheexclusivelegislationoftheformer。Andyetcongress，athomerepublican，willherenourisharistocracy。Thestateswillherelaythefoundationforthedestructionoftheirowninstitutions，rights，andsovereignty。Athome，theywillfollowthelegislationofthedistrict，insteadofguidingitbytheirpreceptandexample。Theywillchoosetobetheenginesoftyrannyandoppressioninthedistrict，thattheymaybecomeenslavedwithintheirownterritorialsovereignty。What，butadispositiontoindulgeinallsortsofdelusionsandalarms，couldcreatesuchextraordinaryflightsofimagination？Cansuchthingsbe，andovercomeus，likeasummer’scloud，withoutourspecialwonder？Atthisdistanceoftime，itseemswhollyunnecessarytorefutethesuggestions，whichhavebeensoingeniouslyurged。
Iftheyproveanything，theyprove，thatthereoughttobenogovernment，becausenopersonscanbefoundworthyofthetrust。