THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE FEDERALIST 131 Number 55. Madison.
and discussion, and to guard beyond a certain point, the
against too easy a combination number may be inconvenient;
for improper purposes ; as, on ... but it is necessary to go to
the other hand, the number a certain number in order to
ought at most to be kept secure the great objects of rep-
within a certain limit in order resentation. Numerous bodies
to avoid the confusion and in- are undoubtedly liable to some
temperance of a multitude. In objections, but they have their
all very numerous assemblies, advantages also; if they are
of whatever character com- exposed to passion and fermen-
posed, passion never fails to tation, they are less subject
wrest the sceptre from reason," to venality and corruption."
pp. 346-47. (Cf. No. 49, Register of Debates, II, 185
"The passions, therefore, not (Aug. 14, 1789). the reason, of the public would sit in judgment," p. 318.)
No. 55 does not refer to the prospects of the rapid enlarge- ment of the House by the accession of new States, a fact which Hamilton emphasized in meeting the objections that the House was too small. ^ It had been urged that the Presi- dent would corrupt now the Senate and now the House. The reply in No. 55 is that the Constitution has rendered the members of Congress ineligible " to any civil offices that may be created, or of which the emoluments may be increased during the term of their election," p. 350. Hamilton met this argument by asserting that there would be at the President's disposal few offices " whose respectability can in any measure balance that of the office of Senator." I, 466.
Number BQ.
The subject of this paper is that the House will be " too small to possess a due knowledge of the interests of its con- stituents," p. 350. In No. 35 (by Hamilton), published Jan. 8, in discussing taxation, the writer says in regard to this
1 Works, I, 426.
