contents...benjamin franklin's speech at the conclusion of the constitutional convention,...
TRANSCRIPT
The Debate on the Constitution: Part One
Contents
DEBATES IN THE PRESS AND IN PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE
September r7, r787-January rz, r788
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" . . . . . . . . . . 6
Alexander Hamilton's Conjectures About the New Constitution, September 1787 . . . . . . . . 9
"A Revolution Effected by Good Sense and Deliberation," September 24, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
David Redick to William Irvine, September 24, 1787 "The Loss of American Liberty". . . . . . . . . . 15
Strictures on the Proposed Constitution, September 26, 1787 . . . . . . . . .
"An American Citizen" [Tench Coxe] I, September 26, 1787
17
The English and American Constitutions Contrasted . . . . 20
"An American Citizen" [Tench Coxe] II, September 28, 1787 Senators and Nobles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
"An American Citizen" [Tench Coxe] III, September 29, 1787 An Uncorrupted House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
"Cato" I, September 27, 1787 Deliberate with Coolness, Analyze with Criticism,
Reflect with Candor. . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Reply to "Cato" I: "Cxsar" I, October 1, 1787 On the Language of Distrust. . . . . . . . 34
Rebuttal to "Cxsar" I: "Cato" II, October n, 1787 On the Right of Free Deliberation . . . . . . . 37
ix
X THE DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION
James Madison to George Washington, September 30, 1787 Congress Forwards the Constitution to the States. . . . 42
Richard Henry Lee to George Mason, October l, 1787 On the Deviousness of Congress,s Action, and
the Need for Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Rev. James Madison to James Madison, c. October l, 1787 For an Experimental Period and an Absolute Separation
of Powers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
"Southwark," October 3, 1787 A ntifederalists - 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
50
52
"Every Thing Which Is Not Given, Is Reserved)). . 63
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 l, 1787
70
77
To Defeat a Monstrous Aristocracy. . . . 92
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)) . 97
Rebuttal to "An Officer of the Late Continental Army": "Plain Truth," November IO, 1787
"I Have Answered All the ObJections)). . . . . 105
CONTENTS
Reply to Wilson's Speech: "Cincinnatus" [Arthur Lee] V, November 29, 1787
"0 Sense Where Is Your Guard! Shame Where Is
Xl
Your Blush P'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II4
"An Old Whig" [George Bryan et al.] I, October 12, 1787 No Amendments Will Ever Be Made Without Violent
Convulsion or Civil War . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
"Marcus," October 15, 1787 Interests and the Constitution .
"A Citizen of America" [Noah Webster], October 17, 1787 An Examination Into the Leading Principles of
127
the Federal Constitution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
"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" . . . . . . . . . 176
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 192
Thomas Jefferson Replies to Madison, December 20, 1787
"The Will of the Mafority Should Always Prevail". 209
"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
214
the Security of Liberty" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Xll THE DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION
"John Humble," October 29, 1787 "To Lick the Feet of Our Well Born Masters)) . 224
"Americanus" [John Stevens, Jr.] I, November 2, 1787 "We Must Think, We Must Reason, For Ourselves)) . 227
Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts General Court, November 3, 1787
"The Greatest Men May Err)) . . . . . . . . . . 231
Reply to Elbridge Gerry: "A Landholder" [Oliver Ellsworth] IV, November 26, 1787
"To Alarm the Fears of the People)) . . . . . . 234
A Further Reply to Elbridge Gerry: "A Landholder" [Oliver Ellsworth] V, December 3, 1787
"To Combat Phantoms)) . . . . . . . . . 239
Letters from the "Federal Farmer" to "The Republican," November 8, 1787
"Examine Coolly Every Article, Clause, and Word)). . . 245
Refutation of the "Federal Farmer": Timothy Pickering to Charles Tillinghast, ' December 24, 1787
<<The Best Constitution We . . Have Any Right To Expeet)). . . . . . .
George Washington to Bushrod Washington, November 10, 1787
"Is It Best for the States to Unite, or Not to Unite?)) . 305
Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787
"The Tree of Liberty Must Be Refreshed from Time to Time with the Blood of Patriots and Tyrants)). 309
"Publius," The Federalist VI [Alexander Hamilton], Noven1ber 14, 1787
"Men Are Ambitious, Vindictive and Rapacious)) 3II
"Brutus" III, November 15, 1787 "Representation Is Merely Nominal-A Mere Burlesque)). 317
CONTENTS
Resolution of the Inhabitants of Pittsburgh, November 17, 1787
Nothing Better Could Be Expected. . . . .
"Philanthrop" to the Public, November 19, 1787 "Real True Self Interest Considered on a Large
Extensive Scale, Is Public Good;; . . . . . . .
"A Landholder" [Oliver Ellsworth] III, November 19, 1787 "Power When Necessary far Our Good Is as Much to Be
Xlll
324
325
Desired as the Food We Eat" . . . . . . . . . . . 329
"Publius," The Federalist VIII [Alexander Han1ilton], November 20, 1787
Militarism, the Inevitable Result of Disunion . . . . 333
"Publius," The Federalist IX [Alexander Han1ilton ], November 21, 1787
A Confederate Republic: The Internal Advantages of a Republican with the External Force of a Monarchical Government. . . . . . . . . . 339
George Mason, "Objections to the Constitution," circulated early October 1787, published in full November 22, 1787
America Under the Constitution: "A Monarchy, or a Corrupt Oppressive Aristocracy)) . . . . . . . . . . 345
A "Prolix" Comment on Mason's "Objections": Jan1es Madison to George Washington, October 18, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Reply to Mason's "Objections": "Civis Rusticus," January 30, 1788
Not to Condemn, But to Correct . . . . . . . . 353
Answers to Mason's "Objections": "Marcus" [Jan1es Iredell] I-V, February 20-March 19, 1788
"A System of Government Which I Am Convinced Can Stand the Nicest Examination';
I, February 20, 1788 . II, February 27, 1788 . III, March 5, 1788 . IV, March 12, 1788 . V, March 19, 1788 .
XIV THE DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION
"Cato" V, November 22, 1787 Can an American Be a Tyrant? On the Great Powers
of the Presidency, the Vagueness of the Constitution, and the Dangers of Congress . . . . . . .
"Publius," The Federalist X [James Madison], November 22, 1787
"To Break and Control the Violence of Faction" .
"A Countryman" [Roger Sherman1] II, November 22, 1787
399
. 404
On the Interests of Rulers and Ruled . . . . . . . . . 412
"Americanus" [John Stevens, Jr.] II, November 23, 1787 "Cato's" Folly: ''A President Possessing the Powers
of a Monarch,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415
Louis Guillaume Otto to Comte de Montmorin, November 26, 1787
There Is No Way to Go Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 420
"Brutus" IV, November 29, 1787 Fair Representation Is the Great Desideratum in Politics . . . 423
"Publius," The Federalist XIV [James Madison], November 30, 1787
''A Revolution Which Has No Parallel in the Annals of Human Society,, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 431
"American us" [John Stevens, Jr.] III, November 30, 1787 On Representation and the Modern State. . . . . . . . 437
"Agrippa" [James Winthrop] III, November 30, 1787 On the Present Prosperity: Recommit the Constitution . . 443
Samuel Adams to Richard Henry Lee, December 3, 1787 The Sovereignty and Diversity of the States Will Be Lost . . 446
"Agrippa" [James Winthrop] IV, December 4, 1787 The Despotism and Misery of a Uniform National State. . . . 448
"Publius," The Federalist XVI [Alexander Hamilton], December 4, 1787
Civil War and the Death of the Union . . . . . . .
"American us" [John Stevens, Jr.] IV, December 5 & 6, 1787
. 451
On the Errors of "Cato" and of Celebrated Writers . . . . . 457
CONTENTS
Richard Henry Lee to Governor Edmund Randolph, December 6, 1787
Must We Kill Ourselves For Fear of Dying?. . . . .
John Adams to Thomas Jefferson, December 6, 1787 The Dangers of the One and of the Few . . . . .
"Agrippa" [James Winthrop] V, December n, 1787 On the «Derangement11 of the Federal Courts . ..
George Lee Turberville to James Madison, December n, 1787
xv
4-73
474
Some Puzzling Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 77
"Publius," The Federalist XX.I [Alexander Hamilton], December 12, 1787
The Extent and Malignity of the Present Disease. . . 481
"Americanus" [John Stevens, Jr.] V, December 12, 1787 On Montesquieu, a System Monger Without Philosophic
Precision) and More on the Errors of «Cato11• 487
"Philadelphiensis" [Benjamin Workman] IV, December 12, 1787
«This Monster) This Colossus of Despotism11 •
"Brutus" V, December 13, 1787 On the «Necessary and Proper 11 and the "General
Welfare11 Clauses, and on Congress1s Power to Tax:
494
the States Will Be Destroyed . . . . . . . . . . 499
"Publius," The Federalist XXII [Alexander Hamilton], December 14, 1787
Further Defects in the Present System . . . . . . . 507
"Agrippa" [James Winthrop] VI, December 14, 1787 The Power to Incorporate) and the Regulation of Commerce . 517
Lawrence Taliaferro to James Madison, December 16, 1787 «The Federal Sistum Is Rufly Handeld11 • • • • • • • • 520
"A Landholder" [Oliver Ellsworth] VII, December 17, 1787 «No Religious Test Shall Ever Be Required11• • • • • • • 521
Dissent of the Minority of the Pennsylvania Convention, December 18, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526
XVl THE DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION
Reply to the Pennsylvania Minority: "America" [Noah Webster], December 31, 1787 ...
A Cumberland County Mutual Improvement Society Addresses the Pennsylvania Minority, January 2, 1788
«Support the Drooping Cause of Liberty)) and Annihilate «the Proposed Aristocratic Delusion)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reply to the Pennsylvania Minority: "A Citizen of Philadelphia" [Pelatiah Webster], January 23, 1788
«Their Folly and Wickedness in Opposing the New Government)) . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Publius," The Federalist XX.III [Alexander Hamilton], December rs, 1787
On Military P<nver: Ends and Means ....... .
"Publius," The Federalist XX.IV [Alexander Hamilton], December 19, 1787
The Danger of a Standing Army: "An Intention to Mislead the People)) . . . . . . . . .
"Philadelphiensis" [Benjamin Workman] V, December 19, 1787
«Diabolical Plots and Secret Machinations ..
553
566
570
575
to Destroy Your Liberties)) . . . . . . . . 581
Joseph Barrell to Nathaniel Barrell, December 20, 1787 ''A Constitution ... Dictated by Heaven Itself)' . . 586
Ezra Stiles: Pluses and Minuses of the Constitution, December 24, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 589
"Publius," The Federalist XX.VII [Alexander Hamilton], December 25, 1787
On the Acceptance of Federal Authority . . . . . . . . 591
Governor Edmund Randolph's Reasons for Not Signing the Constitution, December 27, 1787
«I Will, as an Individual Citizen, Accept the Constitution)). 595
CONTENTS XVll
George Washington to Charles Carter, December 27, 1787 The Constitution or Anarchy: The Need to Ratify 612
"Brutus" VI, December 27, 1787 The Dangers of Unlimited Taxation: "Give! Give/1) 613
"Publius," The Federalist XXX [Alexander Hamilton], December 28, 1787
''An Unrestrained Power of Taxation))? On the Necessity and Uses of Federal Revenue . . . . . . . . . . 622
"Agrippa" [James Winthrop] IX, December 28, 1787 On the Virtues of "Pure Blood)) and Limited Federal Power . 628
Luther Martin, "The Genuine Information" I, II, VIII, IX, XII, December 28, 1787- Februarv 8, 1788
Resisting the Federalist~ "Violent St;uggle ... to Obtain All Power and Dominion))
I, December 28, 1787 . 631
II, January l, 1788 . . 638
VIII, January 22, 1788. 645
IX, January 29, 1788 . 651
XII, February 8, 1788 . 655
"The New Roof" [Francis Hopkinson], December 29, 1787 Skilful Architects and Intriguing Old Women . . . 662
"Giles Hickory" [Noah Webster] I, December 1787 On the Absurdity of a Bill of Rights . . . . .
"Agrippa" [James Winthrop] X, January l, 1788
669
A Summary View: "This System Ought to Be Rejected)' 673
"Publius," The Federalist XXXII-XXXIII [Alexander Hamilton], January 2, 1788
On Repugnancy, Concurrence, and Reciprocal Forbearance 678
"Centinel" [Samuel Bryan] VIII, January 2, 1788 "The Rapacious Hand of Power" ...... . 686
"Brutus" VII, January 3, 1788 "Unlimitted Authority in Matters of Revenue))? .
XVlll THE DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION
"Publius," The Federalist XXXIV [Alexander Hamilton], January 4, 1788
State vs. National Revenues: "Calculate . .. on Permanent Causes of Expence)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 698
Samuel Osgood to Samuel Adams, January 5, 1788 ((An I nexhaustable Fountain of Corruption)) . .
"The Republican" to the People, January 7, 1788 "The Principal Circumstances Which Render
704
Liberty Secure)) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7IO
Resolutions of the Tradesmen of the Town of Boston, January 8, 1788
To Promote Trade, Industry, and Morality . . . . . . 717
"Publius," The Federalist XXXVI [Alexander Hamilton], January 8, 1788
The Representation of Interests and Federal Taxation. 720
Thomas B. Wait to George Thatcher, January 8, 1788 "Darkness, Duplicity, and Studied Ambiguity)) 727
"Brutus" VIII, January IO, 1788 On the Calamity of~ National Debt That Cannot
Be Repaid, and on Standing Armies. . . . . .
"Mark Antony," January IO, 1788 Slavery "Ought To Be Regreted . . . But It Is
Evidently Beyond Our Controul)): A Defense of the Three-Fifths Clause . . . . . . . . . .
James Madison to Governor Edmund Randolph, January ro, 1788
The Dangers of a Second Convention . ...
Samuel Holden Parsons to William Cushing, January n, 1788
"Our Security Must Rest in Our Frequently Recurring Back to the People)). . . . . .
"Publius," The Federalist XXXVII [James Madison], January n, 1788
''An Abstract View of the Subject)). . . . . . . . .
732
737
744
754
CONTENTS XIX
"Agrippa" [James Winthrop] XII, January 11, 15, 18, 1788 "Cherish the Old Confederation Like the Apple of Our Eye)) . . 762
"Publius," The Federalist XXXVIII [James Madison], January 12, 1788
A Bedlam of Criticism and a Counsel of Perfection. . . . . . 774
"American us" [John Stevens, Jr.] VI, January 12, 1788 "An Iron Handed Despotism))? . . . . . . . . . . 783
DEBATES IN THE STATE RATIFYING CONVENTIONS
Pennsylvania RatiJYing Convention, November 20-December IS, r787
James Wilson's Opening Address, November 24, 1787 . . . . 791
John Smilie Responds to Wilson on the Lack of a Bill of Rights, November 28, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . 804
James Wilson and John Smilie Debate the Need for a Bill of Rights, November 28, 1787. . .
"The Defect Is in the System Itself": Robert Whitehill on the Dangers of the Powers of Congress and the Illogic of the Habeas Corpus Clause,
. .. 807
November 30, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sn
Benjamin Rush Speaks Against a Bill of Rights, November 30, 1787 ........... . . 816
William Findlev on the Constitution as a Plan for National Consolidation, December l, 1787. . . . . . . 818
James Wilson Replies to Findley, December l, 1787 820
James Wilson on the Slave-Trade Clause, December 3, 1787. 829
Robert Whitehill Replies to Wilson on the Slave-Trade Clause, December 3, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 831
XX THE DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION
James Wilson's Summation and Final Rebuttal, December n, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . .
Benjamin Rush on Morality and Government, December 12, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . .
Robert Whitehill's Amendments and the Final Vote, December 12, 1787 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Connecticut RatiJYing Convention, January 3--9, r788
Oliver Ellsworth Defends the Taxing Power and Comments on Dual Sovereignties and Judicial Review,
869
January 7, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877
Governor Samuel Huntington on the Need for Coercive National Power, January 9, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . 885
Massachusetts RatiJYing Convention, January 9~February 1, r788
Letter to the Massachusetts Centinel by "Marcus" Objecting to Instructing the Delegates, January 9, 1788 . . . 889
Fisher Ames on Biennial Elections and on the Volcano of Democracy, January 15, r788. . . . . . . . . . 891
A Sharp Exchange on the Powers of Congress and Its Probable Corruption, January 17, 1788 . . 896
Major Martin Kinslev on the Excessive Powers of Congress, January 21, 1788 . . . . . . 902
Thomas Dawes, Jr., on Legitimate Standing Armies, January 24, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 904
Amos Singletary and Jonathan Smith on "Leviathan" Swallowing Up "Us Little Folks" and on the Danger of Anarchy, January 25, 1788 . . . . . . 906
Abraham Holmes and Christopher Gore on the Possible Abuses of the Federal Judiciary, January 30, 1788 910
General William Heath on Slavery, January 30, 1788 . 915
Charles Jarvis on the Amendment Procedure: An Irrefutable Argument for Ratification, January 30, 1788 . . . . . . 917
CONTENTS XXl
The Reverend Daniel Shute and Colonel William Jones on Religious Tests and Christian Belief, January 31, 1788 . 919
John Hancock Proposes Ratification, with Amendments Recommended to "Quiet the Apprehensions of Gentlemen," January 31, 1788 . . . . . . . 921
Samuel Adams Supports Hancock's Proposition, January 31, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 923
Samuel Nasson's "Pathetick Apostrophe" to Liberty, and Judge Increase Sumner's Reply, February l, 1788 925
Isaac Backus on Religion and the State, Slavery, and Nobility, February +, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . 931
Charles Jarvis Supports Hancock's Strategy on Amendments, February +, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 934-
Nathaniel Barrell, a "Plain Husbandman," Warns of the Passion for Power, but Favors Ratification, February 5, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 938
John Hancock's Final Observations: "We Must All Rise or Fall Together," February 6, 1788. . . . . 94-l
The Form of the Ratification of Massachusetts, February 6, 1788 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
APPENDIX
The Declaration of Independence
The Articles of Confederation . .
Letter from the Constitutional Convention to the President of Congress . . . . .
Resolutions of the Convention Concerning the Ratification
94-3
94-9
954-
and Implementation of the Constitution . . . . . . . 967
The Constitution. . . . . . . . . . . . . 968
XXll THE DEBATE ON THE CONSTITUTION
Biographical Notes . .... .
Chronology of Events r714-1804
Notes on State Constitutions) r716--<)o .
Note on the Texts
Notes
Index
995
1055
1117
n23
n37
1195