1822 July 4

Constitut Code Rationale

Supreme Constitutive

Why in all

There seems not therefore any the smallest probability, that in the situation in question, and by means of the instrument and source of power in question, it should ever enter into the head of any man to accomplish by means of a majority of votes any /the acquisition of any/ power of depredation and oppression - any power of misrule any such power as that of carrying on government in the manner in which it is carried on elsewhere.

But if it could not in the situation of President, much less could it in any other situation. Much less could it in the situation for example of Governor in any one of those same United States For in comparison of the power of the President of all its States the power of Governor in that State in which he has most power is next to nothing /inconsiderable/.

By Colonel Burr, who had been Vice President, and if he is to be believed, had the option of being President, the Representative Democracy of the United States was to have been changed /improved/ into an absolute Monarchy; absolute Monarch, Colonel Burr. Changed /Improved/ Yes: but how? by free Votes? by the free Votes of those by whom he had been freely made President? Oh, no: in how so great a degree so ever conducive to the greatest happiness of the greatest number, by any such means the change was hopeless even in that breast in which the desire was strongest, and as the endeavour proved not altogether without hope /far from hopeless/: Oh no, to the throne of the Anglo-American United States the road he had pitched upon passed through the throne of Mexico. In his view, Mexicans were sheep, his own country men, lions First he was to have been Emperor of Mexico. On the backs of the sheep he was to have been brought home to subdue and tame the lions