Page:Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States (1st ed, 1833, vol II).djvu/86

dom in the observations of one of our eminent statesmen on this subject. "It is apparent," said he,

that a delegation for a very short period, as for a single day, would defeat the design of representation. The election in that case would not seem to the people to be of any importance, and the person elected would think as lightly of his appointment. The other extreme is equally to be avoided. An election for a long term of years, or for life, would remove the member too far from the control of the people, would be dangerous to liberty, and in fact repugnant to the purposes of the delegation. The truth, as usual, is placed somewhere between the extremes, and, I believe, is included in this proposition; the term of election must be so long, that the representative may understand the interests of the people; and yet so limited, that his fidelity may be secured by a dependence upon their approbation.^[1]

§ 597. The question, then, which was presented to the consideration of the convention, was, what duration of office, on the part of the members of the house of representatives, was, with reference to the structure of the other branches of the legislative department of the general government, best adapted to preserve the public liberty and to promote the general welfare. I say, with reference to the structure of the other branches of the legislative department of the general government, because it is obvious, that the duration of office of the president and senate, and the nature and extent of the powers to be confided to congress, must most materially affect the decision upon this point. Absolute unanimity upon such a subject could hardly be expected; and accordingly it will be found, that no

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1. Mr. Ames's Speech, 1 Elliot's Debates, 30, 31; Ames's Works, 21; 2 Elliot's Debates, 44, 46.