Question

I like the power given the Legislature to levy taxes, and for that reason solely I approve of the greater house being chosen by the people directly. For though I think a house so chosen . . . will be very illy [badly] qualified to legislate for the Union, for foreign nations, etc., yet this evil does not weigh against the good of preserving . . . the fundamental principle that the people are not to be taxed but by representatives chosen . . . by themselves.

–Thomas Jefferson,
letter to James Madison,
December 20, 1787

Which of the following summarizes Jefferson’s views of "the people” in this passage?

entirely incapable of legislating for the Union
not qualified to legislate on some matters, but entitled to key rights
undeserving of being taxed by their government
the best choice to create legislation for the Union on all matters

Answer 1

not qualified to legislate on some matters, but entitled to key rights

Jefferson says a directly chosen house will be "very ill qualified" to legislate on union/foreign matters, but he accepts that flaw to preserve the principle that the people must be taxed only by representatives they choose.