The experience of other nations will afford little instruction on this head. They are both liable, if not to equal, to similar objections, and may in most lights be examined in conjunction. Both these methods of destroying the unity of the Executive have their partisans but the votaries of an executive council are the most numerous.
New York and New Jersey, if I recollect right, are the only States which have intrusted the executive authority wholly to single men. Of the first, the two Consuls of Rome may serve as an example of the last, we shall find examples in the constitutions of several of the States. This unity may be destroyed in two ways: either by vesting the power in two or more magistrates of equal dignity and authority or by vesting it ostensibly in one man, subject, in whole or in part, to the control and co-operation of others, in the capacity of counsellors to him. Decision, activity, secrecy, and despatch will generally characterize the proceedings of one man in a much more eminent degree than the proceedings of any greater number and in proportion as the number is increased, these qualities will be diminished. That unity is conducive to energy will not be disputed. They have with great propriety, considered energy as the most necessary qualification of the former, and have regarded this as most applicable to power in a single hand, while they have, with equal propriety, considered the latter as best adapted to deliberation and wisdom, and best calculated to conciliate the confidence of the people and to secure their privileges and interests. Those politicians and statesmen who have been the most celebrated for the soundness of their principles and for the justice of their views, have declared in favor of a single Executive and a numerous legislature. The ingredients which constitute safety in the republican sense are, first, a due dependence on the people, secondly, a due responsibility. The ingredients which constitute energy in the Executive are, first, unity secondly, duration thirdly, an adequate provision for its support fourthly, competent powers. Taking it for granted, therefore, that all men of sense will agree in the necessity of an energetic Executive, it will only remain to inquire, what are the ingredients which constitute this energy? How far can they be combined with those other ingredients which constitute safety in the republican sense? And how far does this combination characterize the plan which has been reported by the convention? A feeble execution is but another phrase for a bad execution and a government ill executed, whatever it may be in theory, must be, in practice, a bad government. A feeble Executive implies a feeble execution of the government. There can be no need, however, to multiply arguments or examples on this head. Every man the least conversant in Roman story, knows how often that republic was obliged to take refuge in the absolute power of a single man, under the formidable title of Dictator, as well against the intrigues of ambitious individuals who aspired to the tyranny, and the seditions of whole classes of the community whose conduct threatened the existence of all government, as against the invasions of external enemies who menaced the conquest and destruction of Rome. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy. Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. The enlightened well-wishers to this species of government must at least hope that the supposition is destitute of foundation since they can never admit its truth, without at the same time admitting the condemnation of their own principles. THERE is an idea, which is not without its advocates, that a vigorous Executive is inconsistent with the genius of republican government.
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