Anti Federalist and Federlist papers Study Guide - Monticello College

525 Pages·2011·3.04 MB·English

by  Jason Kowalczyk

Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist
Study Guide

The Federalist Papers have been studied by
many. In this edition it has been organized by
subject then by publication date. While some
publication dates are not fully available to the
day the months have been determined and each
paper without an exact date were considered for
content and placed appropriately. I have taken
to viewing these as a conversation more than a
liner progression of documents. The Anti-
Federalist papers were taken from the The
Antifederalist Papers; Edited with an
Introduction by Morton Borden; Michigan State

University Press, 1965. This authors writings have

Produced in cooperation with Monticello College been removed, so as to keep the information
and Dr. Shannon Brooks
strictly public domain.
Version 20111224
TABLE OF CONTENTS
General Topics .................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
FED1: General Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 5
AFED5: Scotland And England - A Case In Point ..................................................................................................................................... 8
FED2: Concerning Dangers from Foreign Force and Influence ............................................................................................................ 10
FED3: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence) .......................................................... 13
FED4: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence) .......................................................... 16
FED5: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning Dangers From Foreign Force and Influence) .......................................................... 19
AFED1: General Introduction: A dangerous plan of benefit only to the "Aristocratick Combination" ................................................ 22
AFED3: New Constitution Creates A National Government; Will Not Abate Foreign Influence; Dangers Of Civil War And Despotism
............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
AFED4: Foreign Wars, Civil Wars, And Indian Wars - Three Bugbears ................................................................................................. 26
AFED2: "We have been told of phantoms" .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Conflicts Between the States ............................................................................................................................................................ 32
AFED9: A Consolidated Government Is A Tyranny ............................................................................................................................... 32
FED6: Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States ...................................................................................................... 35
FED7: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning Dangers from Dissensions Between the States)..................................................... 39
FED8: The Consequences of Hostilities Between the States ................................................................................................................ 43
FED9: The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection ..................................................................................... 46
FED10: The Same Subject Continued (The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection) .................................. 49
AFED6: The Hobgoblins Of Anarchy And Dissensions Among The States ............................................................................................ 53
AFED7: Adoption Of The Constitution Will Lead To Civil War.............................................................................................................. 55
AFED8: "The Power Vested In Congress Of Sending Troops For Suppressing Insurrections Will Always Enable Them To Stifle The
First Struggles Of Freedom" ................................................................................................................................................................. 57
AFED10: On The Preservation Of Parties, Public Liberty Depends ...................................................................................................... 59
Costs of the New Government .......................................................................................................................................................... 62
AFED13: The Expense Of The New Government ................................................................................................................................. 62
FED11: The Utility of the Union in Respect to Commercial Relations and a Navy ............................................................................... 64
FED12: The Utility of the Union In Respect to Revenue....................................................................................................................... 68
FED13: Advantage of the Union in Respect to Economy in Government ............................................................................................ 71
AFED12: How Will The New Government Raise Money? .................................................................................................................... 73
AFED11: Unrestricted Power Over Commerce Should Not Be Given The National Government ....................................................... 76
State Sovereignty – preservation of the Union ................................................................................................................................. 79
AFED17: Federalist Power Will Ultimately Subvert State Authority .................................................................................................... 79
AFED14: Extent Of Territory Under Consolidated Government Too Large To Preserve Liberty Or Protect Property ......................... 82
AFED18-20: What Does History Teach? (Part I) ................................................................................................................................... 85
FED14: Objections to the Proposed Constitution From Extent of Territory Answered ....................................................................... 87
FED15: The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union .................................................................................. 90
FED16: The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union) ................................ 95
FED17: The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union) ................................ 98
AFED15: Rhode Island Is Right! .......................................................................................................................................................... 101
FED18: The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union) .............................. 102
FED19: The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union) .............................. 106
FED20: The Same Subject Continued (The Insufficiency of the Present Confederation to Preserve the Union) .............................. 110
AFED16: Europeans Admire And Federalists Decry The Present System .......................................................................................... 113
AFED18-20: What Does History Teach? (Part II) ................................................................................................................................ 115
Defects in the Articles of Confederation ......................................................................................................................................... 118
AFED21: Why The Articles Failed ....................................................................................................................................................... 118
FED21: Other Defects of the Present Confederation ......................................................................................................................... 121
FED22: The Same Subject Continued (Other Defects of the Present Confederation) ....................................................................... 124
FED23: The Necessity of a Government as Energetic as the One Proposed to the Preservation of the Union ................................. 129
AFED22: Articles Of Confederation Simply Requires Amendments, Particularly For Commercial Power And Judicial Power;
Constitution Goes Too Far ................................................................................................................................................................. 132
AFED23: Certain Powers Necessary For The Common Defense, Can And Should Be Limited ........................................................... 135
Common Defense, Milita, and Standing Armies ............................................................................................................................. 139
AFED27: The Use Of Coercion By The New Government (Part II) ...................................................................................................... 139
AFED29: Objections To National Control Of The Militia .................................................................................................................... 141
FED24: The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered ................................................................................... 143
FED25: The Same Subject Continued (The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered) ................................. 146
FED26: The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered. ..................................... 149
FED27: The Same Subject Continued (The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense
Considered) ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 153
FED28: The Same Subject Continued (The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense
Considered) ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 155
FED29: Concerning the Militia ........................................................................................................................................................... 158
AFED28: The Use Of Coercion By The New Government (Part III) ..................................................................................................... 162
AFED24: Objections To A Standing Army (Part I) ............................................................................................................................... 165
AFED25: Objections To A Standing Army (Part II) .............................................................................................................................. 168
AFED26: The Use Of Coercion By The New Government (Part I) ....................................................................................................... 172
Taxation .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 174
AFED36: Representation And Internal Taxation ................................................................................................................................ 174
AFED30-31: A Virginia Antifederalist On The Issue Of Taxation ........................................................................................................ 176
AFED32: Federal Taxation And The Doctrine Of Implied Powers (Part I)........................................................................................... 178
AFED33: Federal Taxation And The Doctrine Of Implied Powers (Part II).......................................................................................... 182
FED30: Concerning the General Power of Taxation ........................................................................................................................... 186
FED31: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation) ......................................................................... 189
FED32: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation) ......................................................................... 192
FED33: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation) ......................................................................... 194
FED34: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation) ......................................................................... 197
FED35: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation) ......................................................................... 200
FED36: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the General Power of Taxation) ......................................................................... 204
AFED35: Federal Taxing Power Must Be Restrained .......................................................................................................................... 208
AFED34: The Problem Of Concurrent Taxation .................................................................................................................................. 210
The Convention Overstepped its Bounds ....................................................................................................................................... 211
AFED37: Factions And The Constitution ............................................................................................................................................ 211
AFED38: Some Reactions To Federalist Arguments ........................................................................................................................... 214
FED37: Concerning the Difficulties of the Convention in Devising a Proper Form of Government. .................................................. 217
FED38: The Same Subject Continued, and the Incoherence of the Objections to the New Plan Exposed. ....................................... 221
FED39: The Conformity of the Plan to Republican Principles ............................................................................................................ 226
FED40: On the Powers of the Convention to Form a Mixed Government Examined and Sustained. ............................................... 230
AFED40: On The Motivations And Authority Of The Founding Fathers ............................................................................................. 235
AFED39: Appearance And Reality-The Form Is Federal; The Effect Is National ................................................................................. 239
Powers of Federal Government ...................................................................................................................................................... 241
FED41: General View of the Powers Conferred by The Constitution ................................................................................................ 241
FED42: The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered ........................................................................................... 246
FED43: The Same Subject Continued (The Powers Conferred by the Constitution Further Considered) .......................................... 250
AFED41-43: (Part I) "The Quantity Of Power The Union Must Possess Is One Thing; The Mode Of Exercising The Powers Given Is
Quite A Different Consideration" ....................................................................................................................................................... 255
AFED41-43: (Part II) "The Quantity Of Power The Union Must Possess Is One Thing; The Mode Of Exercising The Powers Given Is
Quite A Different Consideration" ....................................................................................................................................................... 259
Authorities of the States ................................................................................................................................................................. 263
AFED46: "Where Then Is The Restraint?" .......................................................................................................................................... 263
FED44: Restrictions on the Authority of the Several States ............................................................................................................... 265
FED45: The Alleged Danger From the Powers of the Union to the State Governments. .................................................................. 270
FED46: The Influence of the State and Federal Governments Compared ......................................................................................... 273
AFED44: What Congress Can Do; What A State Can Not ................................................................................................................... 277
AFED45: Powers Of National Government Dangerous To State Governments; New York As An Example ....................................... 280
Seperatation of Powers .................................................................................................................................................................. 284
AFED47: "Balance" Of Departments Not Achieved Under New Constitution .................................................................................... 284
AFED50: On Constitutional Conventions (Part II) ............................................................................................................................... 287
AFED49: On Constitutional Conventions (Part I) ................................................................................................................................ 289
FED47: The Particular Structure of the New Government and the Distribution of Power Among Its Different Parts. ..................... 291
FED48: These Departments Should Not Be So Far Separated as to Have No Constitutional Control Over Each Other. ................... 295
FED49: Method of Guarding Against the Encroachments of Any One Department of Government by Appealing to the People
Through a Convention. ...................................................................................................................................................................... 298
FED50: Periodical Appeals to the People Considered ........................................................................................................................ 301
FED51: The Structure of the Government Must Furnish the Proper Checks and Balances Between the Different Departments. ... 303
AFED51: Do Checks And Balances Really Secure The Rights Of The People? .................................................................................... 306
AFED48: No Separation Of Departments Results In No Responsibility .............................................................................................. 310
The House of Representatives ........................................................................................................................................................ 311
AFED59: The Danger Of Congressional Control Of Elections ............................................................................................................. 311
AFED55: Will The House Of Representatives Be Genuinely Representative? (Part I) ........................................................................ 313
AFED56: Will The House Of Representatives Be Genuinely Representative? (Part II) ....................................................................... 316
AFED57: Will The House Of Representatives Be Genuinely Representative? (Part III) ...................................................................... 319
AFED58: Will The House Of Representatives Be Genuinely Representative? (Part IV) ..................................................................... 323
AFED61: Questions And Comments On The Constitutional Provisions Regarding The Election Of Congressmen ............................ 326
AFED54: Apportionment And Slavery: Northern And Southern Views .............................................................................................. 329
FED52: The House of Representatives ............................................................................................................................................... 332
FED53: The Same Subject Continued (The House of Representatives) ............................................................................................. 335
FED54: The Apportionment of Members Among the States ............................................................................................................. 338
FED55: The Total Number of the House of Representatives ............................................................................................................. 341
FED56: The Same Subject Continued (The Total Number of the House of Representatives) ............................................................ 344
FED57: The Alleged Tendency of the New Plan to Elevate the Few at the Expense of the Many Considered in Connection with
Representation. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 347
FED58: Objection That The Number of Members Will Not Be Augmented as the Progress of Population Demands. ...................... 351
FED59: Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members ........................................................................... 354
FED60: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members) .......................... 357
FED61: The Same Subject Continued (Concerning the Power of Congress to Regulate the Election of Members) .......................... 360
AFED52: On The Guarantee Of Congressional Biennial Elections ...................................................................................................... 362
AFED53: A Plea For The Right Of Recall ............................................................................................................................................. 365
AFED60: Will The Constitution Promote The Interests Of Favorite Classes? ..................................................................................... 367
The Senate ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 369
AFED64: On The Organization And Powers Of The Senate (Part III) .................................................................................................. 369
FED62: The Senate ............................................................................................................................................................................. 372
FED63: The Senate Continued ........................................................................................................................................................... 376
FED64: The Powers of the Senate ...................................................................................................................................................... 381
FED65: The Powers of the Senate Continued .................................................................................................................................... 385
FED66: Objections to the Power of the Senate To Set as a Court for Impeachments Further Considered. ...................................... 388
AFED62: On The Organization And Powers Of The Senate (Part I) .................................................................................................... 392
AFED63: On The Organization And Powers Of The Senate (Part II) ................................................................................................... 394
AFED65: On The Organization And Powers Of The Senate (Part IV) .................................................................................................. 398
AFED66: From North Carolina ............................................................................................................................................................ 401
The Executive .................................................................................................................................................................................. 402
FED67: The Executive Department .................................................................................................................................................... 402
AFED67: Various Fears Concerning The Executive Department ........................................................................................................ 405
AFED70: The Powers And Dangerous Potentials Of His Elected Majesty .......................................................................................... 407
AFED73: Does The Presidential Veto Power Infringe On The Separation Of Departments? ............................................................. 408
AFED76-77: An Antifederalist View Of The Appointing Power Under The Constitution ................................................................... 411
AFED69: The Character Of The Executive Office ................................................................................................................................ 416
AFED75: A Note Protesting The Treaty-Making Provisions Of The Constitution ............................................................................... 418
AFED72: On The Electoral College; On Reeligibility Of The President ............................................................................................... 420
FED68: The Mode of Electing the President ...................................................................................................................................... 422
AFED71: The Presidential Term Of Office .......................................................................................................................................... 425
FED69: The Real Character of the Executive ...................................................................................................................................... 427
FED70: The Executive Department Further Considered .................................................................................................................... 431
FED71: The Duration in Office of the Executive ................................................................................................................................. 436
FED72: The Same Subject Continued, and Re-Eligibility of the Executive Considered. ..................................................................... 439
FED73: The Provision For The Support of the Executive, and the Veto Power .................................................................................. 442
FED74: The Command of the Military and Naval Forces, and the Pardoning Power of the Executive. ............................................. 446
FED75: The Treaty-Making Power of the Executive ........................................................................................................................... 448
FED76: The Appointing Power of the Executive ................................................................................................................................ 451
FED77: The Appointing Power Continued and Other Powers of the Executive Considered. ............................................................. 454
AFED74: The President As Military King ............................................................................................................................................. 457
AFED68: On The Mode Of Electing The President ............................................................................................................................. 459
The Judiciary ................................................................................................................................................................................... 461
AFED80: The Power Of The Judiciary (Part II) .................................................................................................................................... 461
AFED83: The Federal Judiciary And The Issue Of Trial By Jury ........................................................................................................... 465
AFED81: The Power Of The Judiciary (Part III) ................................................................................................................................... 466
AFED78-79: The Power Of The Judiciary (Part I) ................................................................................................................................ 471
AFED82: The Power Of The Judiciary (Part IV) ................................................................................................................................... 474
FED78: The Judiciary Department ...................................................................................................................................................... 478
FED79: The Judiciary Continued......................................................................................................................................................... 483
FED80: The Powers of the Judiciary ................................................................................................................................................... 485
FED81: The Judiciary Continued, and the Distribution of the Judicial Authority. .............................................................................. 489
FED82: The Judiciary Continued......................................................................................................................................................... 495
FED83: The Judiciary Continued in Relation to Trial by Jury .............................................................................................................. 498
Concluding Remarks ....................................................................................................................................................................... 506
AFED84: On The Lack Of A Bill Of Rights ............................................................................................................................................ 506
AFED85: Concluding Remarks: Evils Under Confederation Exaggerated; Constitution Must Be Drastically Revised Before Adoption
........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 510
FED84: Certain General and Miscellaneous Objections to the Constitution Considered and Answered. ......................................... 514
FED85: Concluding Remarks .............................................................................................................................................................. 520
Appendix A ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 524
GENERAL TOPICS
FED1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1 For the Independent Journal. Saturday, October 27, 1787
2 HAMILTON
3 To the People of the State of New York:
4 AFTER an unequivocal experience of the inefficacy of the subsisting federal government, you are called
5 upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America. The subject speaks its own
6 importance; comprehending in its consequences nothing less than the existence of the UNION, the safety
7 and welfare of the parts of which it is composed, the fate of an empire in many respects the most
8 interesting in the world. It has been frequently remarked that it seems to have been reserved to the people
9 of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men
10 are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are
11 forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force. If there be any truth in
12 the remark, the crisis at which we are arrived may with propriety be regarded as the era in which that
13 decision is to be made; and a wrong election of the part we shall act may, in this view, deserve to be
14 considered as the general misfortune of mankind.
15 This idea will add the inducements of philanthropy to those of patriotism, to heighten the solicitude which
16 all considerate and good men must feel for the event. Happy will it be if our choice should be directed by a
17 judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations not connected with
18 the public good. But this is a thing more ardently to be wished than seriously to be expected. The plan
19 offered to our deliberations affects too many particular interests, innovates upon too many local
20 institutions, not to involve in its discussion a variety of objects foreign to its merits, and of views, passions
21 and prejudices little favorable to the discovery of truth.
22 Among the most formidable of the obstacles which the new Constitution will have to encounter may readily
23 be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which may
24 hazard a diminution of the power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold under the State
25 establishments; and the perverted ambition of another class of men, who will either hope to aggrandize
26 themselves by the confusions of their country, or will flatter themselves with fairer prospects of elevation
27 from the subdivision of the empire into several partial confederacies than from its union under one
28 government.
29 It is not, however, my design to dwell upon observations of this nature. I am well aware that it would be
30 disingenuous to resolve indiscriminately the opposition of any set of men (merely because their situations
31 might subject them to suspicion) into interested or ambitious views. Candor will oblige us to admit that
32 even such men may be actuated by upright intentions; and it cannot be doubted that much of the
33 opposition which has made its appearance, or may hereafter make its appearance, will spring from sources,
34 blameless at least, if not respectable—the honest errors of minds led astray by preconceived jealousies and
35 fears. So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which serve to give a false bias to the judgment,
36 that we, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of
37 questions of the first magnitude to society. This circumstance, if duly attended to, would furnish a lesson of
38 moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy. And a
39 further reason for caution, in this respect, might be drawn from the reflection that we are not always sure
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40 that those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists. Ambition,
41 avarice, personal animosity, party opposition, and many other motives not more laudable than these, are
42 apt to operate as well upon those who support as those who oppose the right side of a question. Were
43 there not even these inducements to moderation, nothing could be more ill-judged than that intolerant
44 spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties. For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd
45 to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.
46 And yet, however just these sentiments will be allowed to be, we have already sufficient indications that it
47 will happen in this as in all former cases of great national discussion. A torrent of angry and malignant
48 passions will be let loose. To judge from the conduct of the opposite parties, we shall be led to conclude
49 that they will mutually hope to evince the justness of their opinions, and to increase the number of their
50 converts by the loudness of their declamations and the bitterness of their invectives. An enlightened zeal
51 for the energy and efficiency of government will be stigmatized as the offspring of a temper fond of
52 despotic power and hostile to the principles of liberty. An over-scrupulous jealousy of danger to the rights
53 of the people, which is more commonly the fault of the head than of the heart, will be represented as mere
54 pretense and artifice, the stale bait for popularity at the expense of the public good. It will be forgotten, on
55 the one hand, that jealousy is the usual concomitant of love, and that the noble enthusiasm of liberty is apt
56 to be infected with a spirit of narrow and illiberal distrust. On the other hand, it will be equally forgotten
57 that the vigor of government is essential to the security of liberty; that, in the contemplation of a sound and
58 well-informed judgment, their interest can never be separated; and that a dangerous ambition more often
59 lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidden appearance of
60 zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government. History will teach us that the former has been found a
61 much more certain road to the introduction of despotism than the latter, and that of those men who have
62 overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious
63 court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants.
64 In the course of the preceding observations, I have had an eye, my fellow-citizens, to putting you upon your
65 guard against all attempts, from whatever quarter, to influence your decision in a matter of the utmost
66 moment to your welfare, by any impressions other than those which may result from the evidence of truth.
67 You will, no doubt, at the same time, have collected from the general scope of them, that they proceed
68 from a source not unfriendly to the new Constitution. Yes, my countrymen, I own to you that, after having
69 given it an attentive consideration, I am clearly of opinion it is your interest to adopt it. I am convinced that
70 this is the safest course for your liberty, your dignity, and your happiness. I affect not reserves which I do
71 not feel. I will not amuse you with an appearance of deliberation when I have decided. I frankly
72 acknowledge to you my convictions, and I will freely lay before you the reasons on which they are founded.
73 The consciousness of good intentions disdains ambiguity. I shall not, however, multiply professions on this
74 head. My motives must remain in the depository of my own breast. My arguments will be open to all, and
75 may be judged of by all. They shall at least be offered in a spirit which will not disgrace the cause of truth.
76 I propose, in a series of papers, to discuss the following interesting particulars:
77 THE UTILITY OF THE UNION TO YOUR POLITICAL PROSPERITY THE INSUFFICIENCY OF THE PRESENT
78 CONFEDERATION TO PRESERVE THAT UNION THE NECESSITY OF A GOVERNMENT AT LEAST EQUALLY
79 ENERGETIC WITH THE ONE PROPOSED, TO THE ATTAINMENT OF THIS OBJECT THE CONFORMITY OF THE
80 PROPOSED CONSTITUTION TO THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF REPUBLICAN GOVERNMENT ITS ANALOGY TO YOUR
81 OWN STATE CONSTITUTION and lastly, THE ADDITIONAL SECURITY WHICH ITS ADOPTION WILL AFFORD TO
82 THE PRESERVATION OF THAT SPECIES OF GOVERNMENT, TO LIBERTY, AND TO PROPERTY.
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83 In the progress of this discussion I shall endeavor to give a satisfactory answer to all the objections which
84 shall have made their appearance, that may seem to have any claim to your attention.
85 It may perhaps be thought superfluous to offer arguments to prove the utility of the UNION, a point, no
86 doubt, deeply engraved on the hearts of the great body of the people in every State, and one, which it may
87 be imagined, has no adversaries. But the fact is, that we already hear it whispered in the private circles of
88 those who oppose the new Constitution, that the thirteen States are of too great extent for any general
89 system, and that we must of necessity resort to separate confederacies of distinct portions of the whole.1
90 This doctrine will, in all probability, be gradually propagated, till it has votaries enough to countenance an
91 open avowal of it. For nothing can be more evident, to those who are able to take an enlarged view of the
92 subject, than the alternative of an adoption of the new Constitution or a dismemberment of the Union. It
93 will therefore be of use to begin by examining the advantages of that Union, the certain evils, and the
94 probable dangers, to which every State will be exposed from its dissolution. This shall accordingly constitute
95 the subject of my next address.
96 PUBLIUS

1 The same idea, tracing the arguments to their consequences, is held out in several of the late publications
against the new Constitution
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AFED5: SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND - A CASE IN POINT
1 The ongoing Federalist essays appeared from October of 1787 to May of 1788. Rebuttals (Antifederalist in
2 nature) to Federalist writers seldom were published. This selection was an answer to Publius [John Jay]
3 Federalist No. 5. This article by "AN OBSERVER," was printed in The New-York Journal and was reprinted in
4 the [Boston] American Herald on December 3, 1787.
5 A writer, under the signature Publius or The Federalist, No. V, in the Daily Advertiser, and in the New York
6 Packet, with a view of proving the advantages which, he says, will be derived by the states if the new
7 constitution is adopted, has given extracts of a letter from Queen Anne to the Scotch parliament, on the
8 subject of a union between Scotland and England.
9 I would beg leave to remark, that Publius has been very unfortunate in selecting these extracts as a case in
10 point, to convince the people of America of the benefits they would derive from a union, under such a
11 government as would be effected by the new system. It is a certainty, that when the union was the subject
12 of debate in the Scottish legislature, some of their most sensible and disinterested nobles, as well as
13 commoners! (who were not corrupted by English gold), violently opposed the union, and predicted that the
14 people of Scotland would, in fact, derive no advantages from a consolidation of government with England;
15 but, on the contrary, they would bear a great proportion of her debt, and furnish large bodies of men to
16 assist in her wars with France, with whom, before the union, Scotland was at all times on terms of the most
17 cordial amity. It was also predicted that the representation in the parliament of Great Britain, particularly in
18 the house of commons, was too small; forty-five members being very far from the proportion of Scotland,
19 when its extent and numbers were duly considered; and that even they, being so few, might (or at least a
20 majority of them might) at all times be immediately under the influence of the English ministry; and, of
21 course, very little of their attention would be given to the true interest of their constituents, especially if
22 they came in competition with the prospects of views of the ministry. How far these predictions have been
23 verified I believe it will not require much trouble to prove. It must be obvious to everyone, the least
24 acquainted with English history, that since the union of the two nations the great body of the people in
25 Scotland are in a much worse situation now, than they would be, were they a separate nation. This will be
26 fully illustrated by attending to the great emigrations which are made to America. For if the people could
27 have but a common support at home, it is unreasonable to suppose that such large numbers would quit
28 their country, break from the tender ties of kindred and friendship and trust themselves on a dangerous
29 voyage across a vast ocean, to a country of which they can know but very little except by common report. I
30 will only further remark, that it is not about two or three years since a member of the British parliament (I
31 believe Mr. Dempster) gave a most pathetic description of the sufferings of the commonalty of Scotland,
32 particularly on the sea coast, and endeavored to call the attention of parliament to their distresses, and
33 afford them some relief by encouraging their fisheries. It deserves also to be remembered, that the people
34 of Scotland, in the late war between France and Great Britain, petitioned to have arms and ammunition
35 supplied them by their general government, for their defense, alleging that they were incapable of
36 defending themselves and their property from an invasion unless they were assisted by government. It is a
37 truth that their petitions were disregarded, and reasons were assigned, that it would be dangerous to
38 entrust them with the means of defense, as they would then have it in their power to break the union.
39 From this representation of the situation of Scotland, surely no one can draw any conclusion that this
40 country would derive happiness or security from a government which would, in reality, give the people but
41 the mere name of being free. For if the representation, stipulated by the constitution, framed by the late
42 convention, be attentively and dispassionately considered, it must be obvious to every disinterested
43 observer (besides many other weighty objections which will present themselves to view), that the number
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44 is not, by any means, adequate to the present inhabitants of this extensive continent, much less to those it
45 will contain at a future period.
46 I observe that the writer above mentioned, takes great pains to show the disadvantages which would result
47 from three or four distinct confederacies of these states. I must confess that I have not seen, in any of the
48 pieces published against the proposed constitution, any thing which gives the most distant idea that their
49 writers are in favor of such governments; but it is clear these objections arise from a consolidation not
50 affording security for the liberties of their country, and from hence it must evidently appear, that the design
51 of Publius, in artfully holding up to public view [the bugbear of] such confederacies, can be with no other
52 intention than wilfully to deceive his fellow citizens. I am confident it must be, and that it is, the sincere
53 wish of every true friend to the United States, that there should be a confederated national government,
54 but that it should be one which would have a control over national and external matters only, and not
55 interfere with the internal regulations and police of the different states in the union. Such a government,
56 while it would give us respectability abroad, would not encroach upon, or subvert our liberties at home.
57 AN OBSERVER
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