The Debate on the Constitution: Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches, Articles, and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification: Part One, September 1787-February 1788 [ePUB]

1367 Pages·2016·6.4 MB·English

by  Bernard Bailyn

THE DEBATE ON THE
CONSTITUTION
Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches, Articles, and Letters During
the Struggle over Ratification
PART ONE
_______________
DEBATES IN THE PRESS AND IN PRIVATE
CORRESPONDENCE
September 17, 1787–January 12, 1788
DEBATES IN THE STATE RATIFYING CONVENTIONS
Pennsylvania, November 20–December 15, 1787
Connecticut, January 3–9, 1788
Massachusetts, January 9–February 7, 1788
_______________
Bernard Bailyn, editor
THE LIBRARY OF AMERICA
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For acknowledgments, see Note on the Texts.
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Print ISBN: 978-1-59853-165-7
eISBN 978-1-59853-201-2
The publishers wish to thank The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation
for funding the publication of The Debate on the Constitution.
The publishers also express their appreciation to
John P. Kaminski and Gaspare J. Saladino, editors of
The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution, and the State
Historical Society of Wisconsin, the publisher, for editorial assistance, the use of
archival materials, and permission to reprint extensive excerpts.
Contents
DEBATES IN THE PRESS AND IN PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE
September 17, 1787–January 12, 1788
Benjamin Franklin’s Speech at the Conclusion of the Constitutional
Convention, September 17, 1787
“I Agree to This Constitution, with All Its Faults”
“Z” Replies to Franklin’s Speech, December 6, 1787
“No Wonder He Shed a Tear”
Alexander Hamilton’s Conjectures About the New Constitution, September
1787
“A Revolution Effected by Good Sense and Deliberation,” September 24,
1787
David Redick to William Irvine, September 24, 1787
“The Loss of American Liberty”
Strictures on the Proposed Constitution, September 26, 1787
“An American Citizen” [Tench Coxe] I, September 26, 1787
The English and American Constitutions Contrasted
“An American Citizen” [Tench Coxe] II, September 28, 1787
Senators and Nobles
“An American Citizen” [Tench Coxe] III, September 29, 1787
An Uncorrupted House
“Cato” I, September 27, 1787
Deliberate with Coolness, Analyze with Criticism, Reflect with Candor
Reply to “Cato” I: “Cæsar” I, October 1, 1787
On the Language of Distrust
Rebuttal to “Cæsar” I: “Cato” II, October 11, 1787
On the Right of Free Deliberation
James Madison to George Washington, September 30, 1787
Congress Forwards the Constitution to the States
Richard Henry Lee to George Mason, October 1, 1787
On the Deviousness of Congress’s Action, and the Need for Amendments
Rev. James Madison to James Madison, c. October 1, 1787
For an Experimental Period and an Absolute Separation of Powers
“Southwark,” October 3, 1787
Antifederalists—Tories Reborn
“Centinel” [Samuel Bryan] I, October 5, 1787
“A Most Daring Attempt to Establish a Despotic Aristocracy”
James Wilson’s Speech at a Public Meeting, October 6, 1787
“Every Thing Which Is Not Given, Is Reserved”
Reply to Wilson’s Speech: “A Democratic Federalist,” October 17, 1787
What Shelter from Arbitrary Power?
Reply to Wilson’s Speech: “Centinel” [Samuel Bryan] II, October 24, 1787
To Avoid the Usual Fate of Nations
Reply to Wilson’s Speech: “Cincinnatus” [Arthur Lee] I, November 1, 1787
To Defeat a Monstrous Aristocracy
Reply to Wilson’s Speech: “An Officer of the Late Continental Army”
[William Findley?], November 6, 1787
“A Set of Aspiring Despots, Who Make Us Slaves”.
Rebuttal to “An Officer of the Late Continental Army”: “Plain Truth,”
November 10, 1787
“I Have Answered All the Objections”
Reply to Wilson’s Speech: “Cincinnatus” [Arthur Lee] V, November 29,
1787
“O Sense Where Is Your Guard! Shame Where Is Your Blush!”
“An Old Whig” [George Bryan et al.] I, October 12, 1787
No Amendments Will Ever Be Made Without Violent Convulsion or Civil
War
“Marcus,” October 15, 1787
Interests and the Constitution
“A Citizen of America” [Noah Webster], October 17, 1787
An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution
“Brutus” I, October 18, 1787
“If You Adopt It. . . Posterity Will Execrate Your Memory”
The Weaknesses of Brutus Exposed: “A Citizen of Philadelphia” [Pelatiah
Webster], November 8, 1787
“Congress Can Never Get More Power Than the People Will Give”
A Political Dialogue, October 24, 1787
“There Is Some Trick In It”
James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787
The Constitution Explained and Justified, with an “Immoderate
Digression” on a Defeated Proposal
Thomas Jefferson Replies to Madison, December 20, 1787
“The Will of the Majority Should Always Prevail”
“Cato” III, October 25, 1787
The Dangers to Liberty and Happiness
“Publius,” The Federalist I [Alexander Hamilton], October 27, 1787
“Vigour of Government Is Essential to the Security of Liberty”
“John Humble,” October 29, 1787
“To Lick the Feet of Our Well Born Masters”
“Americanus” [John Stevens, Jr.] I, November 2, 1787
“We Must Think, We Must Reason, For Ourselves”
Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts General Court, November 3, 1787
“The Greatest Men May Err”
Reply to Elbridge Gerry: “A Landholder” [Oliver Ellsworth] IV, November
26, 1787
“To Alarm the Fears of the People”
A Further Reply to Elbridge Gerry: “A Landholder” [Oliver Ellsworth] V,
December 3, 1787
“To Combat Phantoms”