to the customs
and convenience of the several states.

Some suppose that the representation will be too small, but I think it is
in the power of congress to make it too large, but I believe that it may
be safely trusted with them. Great Britain contains about three times the
number of the inhabitants in the United States, and according to Burgh's
account in his political disquisitions, the members of parliament in that
kingdom do not exceed 131, and if 69 more be added from the principal
cities and towns the number would be 200; and strike off those who are
elected by the small boroughs, which are called the rotten part of the
constitution by their best patriots and politicians, that nation would be
more equally and better represented than at present; and if that would be
a sufficient number for their national legislature, one-third of that
number will be more than sufficient for our federal legislature who will
have few general matters to transact. But these and other objections have
been considered in a former paper, before referred to. I shall therefore
conclude this with my best wishes for the continuance of the peace,
liberty and union of these states.

A CITIZEN OF NEW HAVEN.

A Citizen Of New Haven, II.

The New Haven Gazette, (Number 51)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1788.

_Observations on the New Federal Constitution._

In order to form a good Constitution of Government, the legislature should
be properly organized, and be vested with plenary powers for all the
purposes for which the government was instituted, to be exercised for the
public good as occasion may require.

The greatest security that a people can have for the enjoyment of their
rights and liberties, is that no laws can be made to bind them nor any
taxes imposed upon them, without their consent by representatives of their
own chusing, who will participate with them in the public burthens and
benefits; this was the great point contended for in our controversy with
Great Britain, and this will be fully secured to us by the new
constitution. The rights of the people will be secured by a representation
in proportion to their numbers in one branch of the legislature, and the
rights of the particular states by their equal representation in the other
branch.

The President and Vice-President as well as the members of Congress will
be eligible for fixed periods, and may be re-elected as often as the
electors shall think fit, which will be a g