Our country is too large to have all its affairs directed by a single government. Public servants at such a distance, and from under the eye of their constituents, must, from the circumstance of distance, be unable to administer and overlook all the details necessary for the good government of the citizens; and the same circumstance, by rendering detection impossible to their constituents, will invite public agents to corruption, plunder and waste.

Summary

This quote highlights the importance of decentralization in government. It argues that a vast country cannot effectively be governed by a single central authority. The distance between public servants and their constituents makes it difficult for them to understand and address local issues. This lack of oversight also creates opportunities for corruption and misuse of public resources. The quote suggests that a more localized approach to governance is necessary to ensure efficient and accountable administration for the benefit of the citizens.

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