The peace and liberty of the states as well as a defense from domestic rebellions can best be protected by a strong union. By studying history several concepts have been found, perhaps unknown to the ancients, that create a republican government allowing liberty to flourish:
- distribution of power into distinct branches
- legislative checks and balances
- a court system
- a legislature with representatives elected by the People
- a way to correct or avoid imperfection
Montesquieu recommended small territories for a republic to work - smaller than our individual states. Accepting his idea would mean dividing the nation into many small, jealous, clashing, disorderly states. However, he suggested a way to accommodate the larger size by combining the best of a monarchy with the best of a republic by forming a 'confederate republic.' This assemblage of several smaller states into a new society capable of adding new states supplies security to the entire group. This form of republic should be self protecting from internal corruption, rebellion, and faction as well, by the simple fact that it would be difficult to gain overall support from more than a small geographical area.
The Constitution would make the states part of the national government by giving them representation in the senate and leaving certain important powers in their hands.
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