necessary that the
Executive Magistrate be
peoples’ guardian
It is necessary then that the Executive Magistrate should be the guardian of the people, even of the lower classes, agst. Legislative tyranny, against the Great & the wealthy who in the course of things will necessarily compose the Legislative body. Wealth tends to corrupt the mind and to nourish its love of power, and to stimulate it to oppression.*
So said Gouverneur Morris on July 19, 1787 during the debate on the powers of the Executive during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
Let’s look at what Mr. Morris said one more time.
The Executive Magistrate should be the guardian of the people, even of the lower classes against Legislative tyranny …
Against the Great & the wealthy who in the course of things will necessarily compose the Legislative body …
Wealth tends to corrupt the mind and to nourish its love of power, and to stimulate it to oppression.
Mr. Morris, it should be noted, was one of the richest men on the Colonies but he was also that feller that championed the concept that “While most Americans still thought of themselves as citizens of their respective states, Morris advanced the idea of being a citizen of a single union of states.” (Wikipedia).
Mr. Morris is also credited with writing out the Preamble to the Constituition of the United States.
The part that reads, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
I can see why there are those in the news today who feel this piece of writing is out of date.
No Haiku For You 