The Essential Debate on the Constitution: Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches and Writings
512
The Essential Debate on the Constitution: Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches and Writings
512eBook
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Overview
When the Constitutional Convention adjourned on September 17, 1787, few Americans anticipated the document that emerged from its secret proceedings. James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the other framers had fashioned something radically new, a strong national government with broad powers. A fierce storm of argument soon broke out in advance of the state ratifying conventions that would decide the new plan's fate as Federalist supporters, Antifederalist opponents, and seekers of a middle ground praised, condemned, challenged, and analyzed the new Constitution. Here, in chronological order, are more than sixty newspaper articles, pamphlets, speeches, and private letters written or delivered during this ratification debate. Along with familiar figures such as Madison, Hamilton, and Patrick Henry, are dozens of lesser-known but equally engaged and passionate participants. The most famous writings of the period--especially the key Federalist essays--are placed in context alongside the arguments of insightful Antifederalists such as "Brutus" and the "Federal Farmer." Crucial issues quickly take center stage--the need for a Bill of Rights, the controversial compromises over slavery and the slave trade, whether religious tests should be imposed--and on questions that continue to engage and divide Americans: the relationship between the national government and the states, the dangers of unchecked presidential power and the remedy of impeachment, the proper role of the Supreme Court, fears of foreign and domestic corruption, and the persistent challenge of making representative government work in a large and diverse nation.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781598535877 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Library of America |
| Publication date: | 10/09/2018 |
| Sold by: | Penguin Random House Publisher Services |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 512 |
| Sales rank: | 803,679 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Preface Bernard Bailyn xiii
Introduction Robert J. Allison xvii
Part 1 The Debate Opens 1
Benjamin Franklin, Speech at the Conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, September 17, 1787 3
Alexander Hamilton, Conjectures About the New Constitution, late September 1787 5
James Wilson, Speech at a Public Meeting, October 6, 1787 8
Brutus I, October 18, 1787 15
A Political Dialogue, October 24, 1787 27
James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787 29
Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20, 1787 45
Cato III, October 25, 1787 50
Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist No. 1, October 27, 1787 55
Part 2 Opposition Organizes 61
Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts General Court, November 3, 1787 63
Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican, November 8, 1787 66
Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787 109
George Mason, Objections to the Constitution, November 22, 1787 111
Robert Yates and John Lansing, Jr., to Governor George Clinton, January 14, 1788 116
Part 3 Toward a New Understanding of Politics 119
Publius (James Madison), The Federalist No. 10, November 22, 1787 121
A Countryman (Roger Sherman) II, November 22, 1787 129
Brutus IV, November 29, 1787 132
Americanus (John Stevens, Jr.) III, November 30, 1787 140
Samuel Adams to Richard Henry Lee, December 3, 1787 145
A Landholder (Oliver Ellsworth) VII, December 17, 1787 147
Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist No. 23, December 18, 1787 152
Brutus VII, January 3, 1788 157
Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist No. 30, December 28, 1787 164
Part 4 Slavery and Liberty 169
Luther Martin, The Genuine Information VIII, January 22, 1788 171
Giles Hickory (Noah Webster) I, December 1787 177
Publius (James Madison), The Federalist No. 39, January 16, 1788 181
On the New Constitution, January 28, 1788 188
Brutus XI, January 31, 1788 190
Civis (David Ramsay) to the Citizens of South Carolina, February 4, 1788 197
Publius (James Madison), The Federalist No. 54, February 12, 1788 204
Part 5 The Future of the American Republic 209
Publius (James Madison), The Federalist No. 51, February 6, 1788 211
Brutus XII, February 7 and 14, 1788 216
Harry Innes to John Brown, February 20, 1788 223
Joseph Spencer to James Madison, Enclosing John Leland's Objections, February 28, 1788 225
Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist No. 70, March 15, 1788 228
Brutus XV, March 20, 1788 237
Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist No. 78, May 28, 1788 244
George Washington to John Armstrong, April 25, 1788 252
Part 6 The State Ratifying Conventions 257
Pennsylvania 259
James Wilson, Opening Address, November 24, 1787 259
James Wilson and John Smilie Debate the Need for a Bill of Rights, November 28, 1787 272
Benjamin Rush Speaks Against a Bill of Rights, November 30, 1787 276
James Wilson on the Slave-Trade Clause, December 3, 1787 278
Robert Whitehill Replies to Wilson on the Slave-Trade Clause, December 3, 1787 280
Dissent of the Minority of the Pennsylvania Convention, December 18, 1787 281
Massachusetts 307
Fisher Ames on Biennial Elections and the "Volcano" of Democracy, January 15, 1788 307
An Exchange on the Powers of Congress and Its Probable Corruption, January 17, 1788 312
Amos Singletary and Jonathan Smith on "Leviathan" and on the Danger of Anarchy, January 25, 1788 318
Daniel Shute and William Jones on Religious Tests, January 31, 1788 322
John Hancock Proposes Ratification with Recommended Amendments, January 31, 1788 324
Samuel Adams Supports Hancock's Proposition, January 31, 1788 325
John Hancock's Final Observations, "We Must All Rise or Fall Together," February 6, 1788 327
The Form of the Ratification of Massachusetts, February 6, 1788 329
South Carolina 332
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney Explains America's Unique "Structure of Freedom," May 14, 1788 332
Patrick Dollard Fears a Corrupt and Despotic Aristocracy, May 22, 1788 347
Virginia 350
Patrick Henry's Opening Speech Opposing Ratification, June 4, 1788 350
Patrick Henry States His Main Objections, and James Madison Responds, June 12, 1788 353
George Mason and James Madison Debate the Slave-Trade Clause, June 17, 1788 373
New York 375
Robert R. Livingston, Melancton Smith, and John Jay Debate Aristocracy, Representation, and Corruption, June 23, 1788 375
Melancton Smith Fears the Federal Taxing Power, June 27, 1788 388
North Carolina 394
James Iredell on the Presidency and the Pardoning Power, July 28, 1788 394
James Iredell on Impeachment, July 28, 1788 403
Henry Abbot and Tames Iredell Debate Religious Tests, July 30, 1788 409
The Rev. David Caldwell and Samuel Spencer Debate Religious Toleration, July 30, 1788 415
The Constitution 417
Chronology, 1774-1804 445
Biographical Notes 449
Note on the Texts 454
Notes 460
Index 475
About the Editors 487