he same manner, and by the same words; neither do
they connect precisely the same ideas with the same words. From hence
arises an ambiguity in all language, with which the most perspicuous and
precise writers are in a degree chargeable. Some persons never attain to
the happy art of perspicuous expression, and it is equally true that some
persons thro' a mental defect of their own, will judge the most correct
and certain language of others to be indefinite and ambiguous. As Mr.
Gerry is the first and only man who has charged the new Constitution with
ambiguousness, is there not room to suspect that his understanding is
different from other men's, and whether it be better or worse, the
Landholder presumes not to decide.

It is an excellency of this Constitution that it is expressed with
brevity, and in the plain, common language of mankind.

Had it swelled into the magnitude of a volume, there would have been more
room to entrap the unwary, and the people who are to be its judges would
have had neither patience nor opportunity to understand it. Had it been
expressed in the scientific language of law, or those terms of art which
we often find in political compositions, to the honorable gentleman it
might have appeared more definite and less ambiguous; but to the great
body of the people altogether obscure, and to accept it they must leap
into the dark.

The people to whom in this case the great appeal is made, best understand
those compositions which are concise and in their own language. Had the
powers given to the legislature been loaded with provisos, and such
qualifications as a lawyer who is so cunning as even to suspect himself,
would probably have intermingled; there would have been much more of a
deception in the case. It would not be difficult to shew that every power
given to the legislature is necessary for national defence and justice,
and to protect the rights of the people who create this authority for
their own advantage; but to consider each one particularly would exceed
the limits of my design.

I shall, therefore, select two powers given them, which have been more
abused to oppress and enslave mankind, than all the others with which this
or any legislature on earth is cloathed--the right of taxation or of
collecting money from the people; and of raising and supporting armies.

These are the powers which enable tyrants to scourge their subjects; and
they are also the very powers by which good rulers pr