ective, it is a spirit not to be
encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there
will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose;
and there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to
be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A
fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to
prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it
should consume.

20. It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a
free country should inspire caution in those intrusted with its
administration, to confine themselves within their respective
constitutional spheres, avoiding, in the exercise of the powers
of one department, to encroach upon another. The spirit of
encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the
departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of
government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of
power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the
human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this
position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of
political power, by dividing and distributing it into different
depositories, and constituting each the guardian of public weal
against invasions by the others, has seen evinced by experiments
ancient and modern, some of them in our country and under our
own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to constitute
them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or
modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular
wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment, in a way which the
Constitution designates; but let there be no change by
usurpation: for though this, in one instance, may be the
instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free
governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly
overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit
which the use can at any time yield.

21. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political
prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In
vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should
labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these
firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere
politician, equally with the pious man, ought to resp