roo Essays )
sums their respective States had actually contributed to
that treasury from their taxes or internal excises.
That, in case general duties should be laid by impost
 on goods imported, a liberal estimation shall be
made of the amount of such impost paid in the price
of the commodities by those States that import but
little, and a proportionate addition shall be allowed
of suffrage to such States, and an equal diminution
of the suffrage of the States importing.
Remarks
The steady course of public measures is most
probably to be expected from a number.
A single person’s measures may be good. The
successor often differs in opinion of those measures,
and adopts others; often is ambitious of distinguishing
 himself by opposing them, and offering new projects.
 One is peaceably disposed; another may be
fond of war, etc. Hence foreign states can never
have that confidence in the treaties or friendship of
such a government, as in that which is conducted by
a number.
The single head may be sick; who is to conduct
the public affairs in that case? When he dies, who
are to conduct till a new election? If a council, why
not continue them? Shall we not be harassed with
factions for the election of successors; and become,
like Poland, weak from our dissensions?
Consider the present distracted condition of Holland.
 They had at first a Stadtholder, the Prince of
Orange, a man of undoubted and great merit. They

787] 26C