. Those who preferred
cultivating their lands would do so; those who chose to navigate and
become carriers would do that. The loss of this question determined Mr.
Mason against the signing the doings of the convention, and is undoubtedly
among his reasons as drawn for the southern states; but for the eastern
states this reason would not do.(34) It would convince us that Mr. Mason
preferred the subjects of every foreign power to the subjects of the
United States who live in New-England; even the British who lately ravaged
Virginia--that Virginia, my countrymen, where your relations lavished their
blood--where your sons laid down their lives to secure to her and us the
freedom and independence in which we now rejoice, and which can only be
continued to us by a firm, equal and effective union. But do not believe
that the people of Virginia are all thus selfish: No, there is a
Washington, a Blair, a Madison and a Lee, (not R. H. L.) and I am
persuaded there is a majority of liberal, just and federal men in
Virginia, who, whatever their sentiments may be of the new constitution,
will despise the artful injustice contained in Col. Mason's reasons as
published in the Connecticut papers.

_The President of the United States has no council, etc._, says Col.
Mason. His proposed council(35) would have been expensive--they must
constantly attend the president, because the president constantly acts.
This council must have been composed of great characters, who could not be
kept attending without great salaries, and if their opinions were binding
on the president his responsibility would be destroyed--if divided, prevent
vigor and dispatch--if not binding, they would be no security. The states
who have had such councils have found them useless, and complain of them
as a dead weight. In others, as in England, the supreme executive advises
when and with whom he pleases; if any information is wanted, the heads of
the departments who are always at hand can best give it, and from the
manner of their appointment will be trustworthy. Secrecy, vigor, dispatch
and responsibility, require that the supreme executive should be one
person, and unfettered otherwise than by the laws he is to execute.

_There is no Declaration of Rights._ Bills of Rights were introduced in
England when its kings claimed all power and jurisdiction, and were
considered by them as grants to the people. They are insignificant since
government is considered as originatin