In  all  those  important  questions  where  the  present  Confedera-
tion has  made  the  assent  of  Nine  States  necessary,  I  have  made  the
assent^of  Two-Thirds  of  both  Houses,  when  assembled  in  Congress,
and  added  to  the  number,  the  Regulation  of  Trade,  and  Acts  for
levying  an  Impost  and  raising  a  Revenue:  —  These  restraints  have
ever  appeared  to  me  proper;  and  in  determining  questions  whereon
the  political  happiness  and  perhaps  existence  of  the  Union  may  de-
pend, I  think  it  unwise  ever  to  leave  the  decision  to  a  mere  majority;
no  Acts  of  this  kind  should  pass,  unless  Two-Thirds  of  both  Houses
are  of  opinion  they  are  beneficial,  it  may  then  be  presumed  the
measure  is  right;  but  when  merely  a  majority  determines,  it  will  be
doubtful,  and  in  questions  of  this  magnitude  where  their  propriety
is  doubtful,  it  will  in  general  be  safest  not  to  adopt  them.
