CH. VIII.]
THE LEGISLATURE.
37
when a single legislature is determined to depart from the principles of the constitution, and its uncontrollable power may prompt the determination, there is no constitutional authority to check its progress. It may proceed by long and hasty strides in violating the constitution, till nothing but a revolution can check its career. Far different will the case be, when the legislature consists of two branches. If one of them should depart, or attempt to depart, from the principles of the constitution, it will be drawn back by the other. The very apprehension of the event will prevent the departure, or the attempt.[4]
- ↑ Sidney's Disc. on Government, ch. 3, § 45.
- ↑ The Federalist, No. 15.
- ↑ Id. No. 62, 15.
- ↑ 1 Wilson's Law Lect. 396; The Federalist, No. 62, 63.—Mr. Jefferson was decidedly in favour of a division of the legislative power into two branches, as will be evident from an examination of his Notes on Virginia, (p. 194,) and his Correspondence at the period, when this subject was much discussed.[a 1] De Lolme, in his work on the constitution of England, has (ch. 3, p. 214, &c.) some very striking remarks on the same subject, in the passage already cited. He has added: "The result of a division of the executive power is either a more or less speedy
- ↑ 2 Pitk. Hist. 283.