Everyone reads the Federalist papers. But what is very interesting is reading the Anti Federalist Papers. The people that made them up was .... Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason and Richard Henry Lee. Thomas Jefferson was also one of them. Thomas Jefferson expressed from time to time his anti-federalist views. Butt his involvement in the discussion was limited. This was becasue twhen the US Consitution debate was going on , he was stationed as Ambassador to France.Here are 3 of the main points they said:about why they did not want the states to ratify this draft of the US Constituiton:1) They thought that a stronger government threatened the sovereignty and prestige of the states, localities, or individuals.2) They argued that the strong national government proposed by the Federalists was a threat to the rights of individuals3 )That the President would become a kingI iwll be posting on these papers casue they are very interesting. And really make one stop and think. Especially when you really read what they were saying. It is like they foresaw in the future, if you ratify this US Consitution ther will be trouble down the road. Why they even predicted a Civil War would break out.Anti Federalist Paper Number 7 Written in The Virginia Journal and Alexandria Advertiser, December 6, 1787, Does not tell us who wrote it either.ADOPTION OF THE CONSTITUTION WILL LEAD TO CIVIL WAR"... The new constitution in its present form is calculated to produce despotism, thraldom and confusion, and if the United States do swallow it, they will find it a bolus, that will create convulsions to their utmost extremities. Were they mine enemies, the worst imprecation I could devise would be, may they adopt it...""... The Congress's having power without control-to borrow money on the credit of the United States; their having power to appoint their own salaries, and their being paid out of the treasury of the United States, thereby, in some measure, rendering them independent of the individual states; their being judges of the qualification and election of their own members, by which means they can get men to suit any purpose;..."..."A change of government is at all times dangerous, but at present may be fatal, without the utmost caution, just after emerging out of a tedious and expensive war. Feeble in our nature, and complicated in our form, we are little able to bear the rough Posting of civil dissensions which are likely to ensue. Even now, discontent and opposition distract our councils. Division and despondency affect our people. Is it then a time to alter our government, that government which even now totters on its foundation, and will, without tender care, produce ruin by its fall?...""...Of all the plagues that infest a nation, a civil war is the worst. Famine is severe, pestilence is dreadful; but in these, though men die, they die in peace. The father expires without the guilt of the son; and the son, if he survives, enjoys the inheritance of his father. Cities may be thinned, but they neither plundered nor burnt. But when a civil war is kindled, there is then forth no security of property nor protection from any law. Life and fortune become precarious. And all that is dear to men is at the discretion of profligate soldiery, doubly licentious on such an occasion...."... "Countries are eaten up by the parties they favor, and ravaged by the one they oppose. Fathers and sons, sheath their swords in anothers bowels in the field, and their wives and daughters are exposed to rudeness and lust of ruffians at home. And when the sword has decided quarrel, the scene is closed with banishments, forfeitures, and barbarous executions that entail distress on children then unborn. May Heaven avert the dreadful catastrophe! In the most limited governments, what wranglings, animosities, factions, partiality, and all other evils that tend to embroil a nation and weaken a state, are constantly practised by legislators. What then may we expect if the new constitution be adopted as it now stands? The great will struggle for power, honor and wealth; the poor become a prey to avarice, insolence and oppression. And while some are studying to supplant their neighbors, and others striving to keep their stations, one villain will wink at the oppression of another, the people be fleeced, and the public business neglected. From despotism and tyranny good Lord deliver us. ..." Tags:Share
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I am so happy to see that someone else is paying attention attenion to these very important papers! I have been slapped down on many sites for mentioning them but, as you said, we would not have a Constitution if it were not for them!
Something else that few people know is that we have a Preamble to the Bill of Rights!
The First 10 Amendments to the
Constitution as Ratified by the States
December 15, 1791
Preamble Congress OF THE United States
begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday
the Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.:
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
The first ten amendments are "declaratory and restrictive clauses". This means they supersede all other parts of our Constitution and restrict the powers of our Constitution.
A Bill of Rights is basically a list of the rights of the people from which the government is forbidden from interfering. Bills of Rights were nothing new at this point in history. The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, forced King John to respect certain rights of those in his kingdom, such as their right to writs of habeas corpus (meaning their right to appeal unlawful imprisonment), and forced him to admit that the law must control his actions. The English Bill of Rights of 1689 guaranteed certain rights to the people as represented by their members of Parliament against the King, such as freedom to petition the government, freedom from taxation without legislative approval and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. Many of the states had enacted their own bills of rights to protect their own citizens as well.
After the states received their copies of the proposed Constitution, each state was to hold a ratifying convention to discuss the merits of the Constitution and to accept or reject it. Five states, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut, voted to ratify immediately. The rest of the states, however, were slow to get on board. A vigorous and bitter public debate began all over the states between Federalists and Anti-Federalists about whether or not the newly proposed Constitution gave too much power to the government and did too little to protect the rights of individuals. After all, they had just fought a bloody war in order to get rid of an oppressive government. They sure didn't want to create another one! About this time, George Washington wrote to the Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who had helped him in the Revolutionary War. In his letter he talks about the proposed Constitution and the calls for a Bill of Rights
George Washington’s views on the Bill of Rights as expressed in a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette. See the URL for the entire letter. (You will have to copy and paste URL to get it to work)
On the general merits of this proposed Constitution, I wrote to you, some time ago, my sentiments pretty freely. That letter had not been received by you, when you addressed to me the last of yours which has come to my hands. I had never supposed that perfection could be the result of accommodation and mutual concession. The opinion of Mr. Jefferson and yourself is certainly a wise one, that the Constitution ought by all means to be accepted by nine States before any attempt should be made to procure amendments. (Emphasis mine) For, if that acceptance shall not previously take place, men's minds will be so much agitated and soured, that the danger will be greater than ever of our becoming a disunited People. Whereas, on the other hand, with prudence in temper and a spirit of moderation, every essential alteration, may in the process of time, be expected.
You will doubtless, have seen, that it was owing to this conciliatory and patriotic principle that the Convention of Massachusetts adopted the Constitution in toto; but recommended a number of specific alterations and quieting explanations, as an early, serious and unremitting subject of attention. Now, although it is not to be expected that every individual, in Society, will or can ever be brought to agree upon what is, exactly, the best form of government; yet, there are many things in the Constitution which only need to be explained, in order to prove equally satisfactory to all parties. For example: there was not a member of the convention, I believe, who had the least objection to what is contended for by the Advocates for a Bill of Rights and Tryal by Jury. (Emphasis mine) The first, where the people evidently retained every thing which they did not in express terms give up, was considered nugatory as you will find to have been more fully explained by Mr. Wilson and others: And as to the second, it was only the difficulty of establishing a mode which should not interfere with the fixed modes of any of the States, that induced the Convention to leave it, as a matter of future adjustment.
Federalists believed a Bill of Rights was unnecessary because they believed that the Constitution only gave the government limited powers that were specifically listed. The government had no power to do things it was not entitled to in the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton believed that the people were not giving up any rights by accepting the Constitution.
The Federalists also believed, though, that adding a Bill of Rights could be very dangerous. If specific rights to be retained by the people were listed in the Constitution, they believed it would imply that any rights not listed were notprotected and that the government would gradually encroach upon these rights.
The Anti-Federalists were not persuaded. They wanted guarantees for such things as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to petition the government and many others, specifically listed in the Constitution.
The impasse was finally overcome by what is known as the Massachusetts Compromise. The Massachusetts ratifying convention finally got enough Anti-Federalists to agree by recommending a number of amendments be adopted by the First Congress under the new constitution. So the Anti-Federalists voted yes, on the promise that a Bill of Rights would be added.
I like to share something with everyone in s book I am reading on the American Revolution. It is probably the best book on the American Revolution I have read to date. The book is entitled "Angel in the Whirlwind", by Benson Bobrick. And this brings in some insight as to why Washington wanted a very strong central government. It all stemmed back to the Revolutionary War. Time and time again you read how Washington pleaded with Congress, with the states, for money to pay the troops. This was because during the War many of the troops were serving short terms of enlistment. But there was no money available to fund them. Washington also struggled to feed and clothe his army.
But what happened as we all know, Taken form the book, " Congress came back to Washington and they told him the currency was depreciated, The commissaries also found it difficult to purchase supplies for the immediate wants of the army and impossible to provide any stores in advance. They were left destitute of resources, and the public credit was prostrated in accumulating debts."
In a fit of rage and utter disgust on May 31, 1780 Washington wrote this.. (Very Important to pay attention to what he is saying here:)
"One of the emerging lessons of the war was the NEED FOR A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT."
"Certain I am unless Congress speak in a more decisive tone, unless they are invested with powers by the
several States competent to the great purposes of the war, or assume them as a matter of right,and they and the States respectively act with more energy than they hitherto have done, that our cause is lost....One State will comply with a requisition of Congress, another neglects to do i; a third executes it by halves; and all differ either in the manner, the matter, or so much in point of time, that we are always working up hill, and while such a system as the present one or rather want of one prevails, we shall ever be unable to apply our strength or resources to any advantage"...
Let me add to what i said above this from the book...
..."Since Congress could not, and the states would not, impose taxes sufficient to finance a revolution that had sprung from a Resistance to taxation, the Continental troops were largely supported by the states which they belonged. Some states gave more support than others, but for the troops, being paid in paper money at its nominal value, found in a general that the four months' pay of a private soldier was not enough to pay for a single bushel of wheat. Nor the pay of a colonel oats enough for his horse. It cost 400 Continental dollars to buy a pair of boots or a hat"...
In another letter in 1780, Washington spoke outright for his hatred of these big time war profiteers.- the "monopolizers, forestallers, and engrossers of condign punishment...It is much to be lamented that each state, long ere this, has not hunted down as the pests of society and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of America. I would to God that one of the most atrocious in each state was hung in gibbets upon a gallows 5 times, as high as the one prepared by Hamen. No punishment, in my opinion, is too great for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin."
What Washington said, he never ever forgot. Especially this was true when the writing of the US Constitution was being drafted. In a letter Washington wrote to Rev. William Gordon on July 8, 1783,
....:"For certain I am, that unless adequate Powers are given to Congress, for the general purposes of the Federal Union that we should soon moulder into dust and become contemptible in the Eyes of Europe, if we are not made the sport of their Politicks, to suppose that hate general concern of this Country can be directed by 13 heads, or one head without without competent powers, is a solecism.".
During the great debate on the Consitutional Convention, Washington wrote this:
'The laws of Congress would be supreme, and Congress could use military force, if necessary, to enforce them in every state."...
..."Persuaded I am that the primary cause of all our disorders lies in the difference State Governments, and in the tenacity of that power which pervades the whole of their systems. Whilst independent sovereignity is so ardently contended for...incompatibilty in the laws of different States, and disrespect to those of the general government must render the situation of this great Country, weak, inefficient and disgraceful. It has already done so, almost to the final dissolution of it - weak at home and disregarded
abroad is our present condition, and contemptible enough it is "
Why did Washington state this? This was Washiington taking revenge on the states legislatures for not providing he and his army with the adequate funding throughout the enitre Revolutionary War.
It was not only Washignton that wanted a strong central government, but many of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention wanted one to. Here is what Pennsyvania's Gouverneur Morris said:
"I cannot conceive of a government in which thre can exist 2 supremes (state and federal)", "A Federal Government which each party may violate at pleasure cannot answer the purpose...We had better take a supreme (federal ) government now than a despot twenty years hence - for come he must."
The more I am reading this book Angel in the Whirlwind, the more I am convinced that what Washington exprerienced during the Revolutionary War, had a profound effect on why Washington made sure that when the Consitutional Convention began, the only way America would be able to survive is IF the country had a very strong centralized government. To not give all the power to the states.
During the same time Washignton wrote what i shared with you, General Wayne wrote this during the winter months the Continental Army was in Morristown, PA. .
..."Poorly clothed , badly fed and worse paid, some of them not having received a paper dollar for 12 months, exposed to winter's piercing cold, to drifting snows and chiling blasts, with no portection but old worn out coats, tattered linen overalls, and but one blanket between 3 men. In this situation, the eneny begin to work upon their passions, and have found means to circulate some proclamations among them...The Officers in general, as well as myself, find it necessary to stand for hours everyday exposed to wind and weather among the poor naked fellows while they are working at their huts and redoubts, often assisting with our own hands in order to produce a conviction to their minds that we share, and more than share, every vicissitude in common with them; sometimes asking to participate their bread and water. The good effect of this conduct is very conspicious and prevents their murmuring in public, but the delicate mind and eye of humanity are hurt, very much hurt, at their visible distress and private complainings."
Also let me go back to somehing Washignton wrote in his military jounrnal. To add to what General Wayne had said.
.
..."Instead of having magazines filled with provisions, we have a scanty pittance scattered here and there in the different States. Instead of having our arsenals well supplied with military stores, they are poorly provided....Instead of having the regiments completed...scarce any state in the union has, at this hour, an eighth of its quota in the field, and little prospect, that I can see, of ever getting more than hlaf. In a word, instead of having everything in readiness to take the field, we have nothing, and instead of having the prospect of a glorious offensive campaign before us, we have a bewildered and gloomy defensive one, unless we should receive a powerful aid of ships, land troops and money from our generous allies, and these, at present, are too contigent to build upon."
Here is the last one.. It shows Washingtons desperate plea to the governors of New England states, to please send troops as they can send.. "The enemy counting upon or want of ability, or upon our want of energy."
But he also said this to them in the same letter
..."have by repeated detachments to the southward, reduced themselves in NY to a situation that invites us to take advantage of it; and should the lucky moment be lost, it is to be feared thatthey will, after subduing the Southern States, raise a force in them sufficent to hold them, and return again to the northward with such a number of men as will render New York secure against any force which we can at this time raise or maintain. Our allies in this country expect and depend upon being supported by us in the attemlt which we are about to make, and those in Europe will be astonsihed should we neglect the favorable opportunity which is now offered'...
This is why Franklin spent so much time in France. When he was pleading with King Louis XVI, to please help us.King Louis XVI listened to those pleas with a opened heart, and soul. He gave America in 1781, 6 million livres. This was also independent of the 4 million livres he enabld Dr Franklin to borrow for the service of the coming year.
With the money pouring into America from France, With the French troops, and French navy coming to help the colonies, Washignton realized to win this war, he had to abandon his attack on NY. To turn his eyes to Virrginia, where Cornwallis had "ensconsed" himself at Yorktown. The way he did this was brillant. He left a mere 5,500 or so Continentals and Conn. State troops spread along a wide are to bottle up the British, Hessian, and Tory trrops in NY. So these troops could not join Cornwallis in Yorktown.
Thing to remember is this..This money did not come from the State Gvovernors at all. The added troops Washington asked and pleaded for from the State Governors did not come. Congress tried all it could to send what little it had in money to help with the finances of the war. Congress nor the States did nothing to really stop the profiteers form the War.
This is why Washignton, and the Federalsits made sure than when the US Consitution was being drawn up, the states had very little power. They did not want a repeat as to what had happened during the Revolutionary War. The only way this country would survive was with a strong centralized government.
Another book I highly recommend everyone read , is the book by Harlow Giles Unger America's Second Revolution. It talks about how George Washington defeated Patrick Henry and Saved Nation. In this book, you begin to get a eye opening look into what the big picture is here. And see the fight begin over who should have more power the states or federal government.
A fight which exists to this very day.
Here is how the delegates to the Constitutional Convention voted in favor of voting in favor of the US Constitution. To vote for a strong centralized power with all the power. Washington was very very worried the Virgina Plan would not pass. The delegates were fighting on every word, and clause inside of the plan. To make matters worse, the delegate from New Jersey Attorney General William Patterson purposed his own plan to combat the Virginia Plan. The plan was known as the New Jersey plan.
The plan was this: Leave the Confederation in place, and give voting parity among the states in Congress. Congers would be able to raise taxes and regulate foreign and interstate commerce. Also added a multiple executive with no veto powers over legislation. Like the Va Plan it called for Congress to elect members of the court and the executive. It also espoused
the principle of supremacy of nat'l and state laws, and finally assuming Washington be the 1st President, and never misuse his powers, it gave the nat'l executive the right to use force to ensure state obedience to nat'l law.
So even before the delegates could vote on the Va Plan,, now they had another Plan to argue about, and vote on. The entire Convention was now in absolute gridlock, and deadlock. Washington knew he had to do something drastic to break all of this deadlock, he turned to his Alexander Hamilton to save it all..
Interesting thing about Hamilton is this, up until this very point in the deliberations, he said not a word. But on June 18, 1787, he spoke for 6 hours. But what he said left all in that room-silent and stunned. Only one applauded. That was
Pennsylvania's' Gouvenour Morris. The rest could not believe what Hamilton said.
During the 6 hours speech he went and tore into both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. He even mocked the delegates who argued for and against the plans. Then he said the following:
"The general power must swallow up States powers. Otherwise it will be swallowed up by them."
He did not end there....He then spoke very slowly. and paused in between each word..."Two....sovereign...powers...can...not....co-exist....within...the....same.....limits"
Delegate arguments- he then sighed after a long pause had "led him to despair that Republican gov't could be established. ...Give all power to the many, they will oppress the few; give all power to the few, they will oppress the many."
Here is what he purposed. a English style of gov't. He said it was the best model for the gov't in the world. He said he doubted "whether anything short of it would do i America". He urged indirect election of a monarch for life. Also the creation of a two house legislature. The Senate or upper House, chosen for life by electors, and an "Assembly" elected by the people to serve for 3 years. He suggested creating a inferior court in each state and a Supreme Court with 12 judges serving for life on good behavior. He urged the abolition of all state military forces, and the "Militia of all the States to be under the sole and exclusive direction of the US, the officers of which to be appointed by them".
Even though Hamilton knew he was creating political suicide. That his enemies would continuously go back to this speech of his charging him for supporting the support of a return of monarchism, and worse British monarchy. Hamilton knew what he was doing. What he did worked. The delegates were so stunned, and shocked by what Hamilton said, they realized that both sides would have to shift sides to form a compromise in which each side would win and each lose something, or they would all loose or win nothing. To the delight of the Federalists and Washington, the Convention voted
to reject this New Jersey Plan, and return all focus on the Va Plan.
Thus putting the nail in the coffin that Washington wanted all along. Not the states to have the power. But the central government.to have it all. Something he was calling for way back during the Revolutionary War.
The second American Revolution was about to begin...Who has more power the States or Federal Gov't?..
Just what we are going through now, lost of our rights and full control over us.
Wake up America, get your head out of the sand, and help take a stand in restoring our Constitution
"One Nation Under God"
PRECISAMENTE - EXACTLY ZORAIDA - - Tell My Church Please, http://www.iglesiacristianarocadesalvacion.org/index.html - - -FAITH Without Works is DEAD. We have many 501(c)3 Churches across AMERICA where the Pastors Don''t Dare open their mouths because of possibly NOT Complying with Federal Guidelines - - - YEAH RIGHT ! ! !, (L.O.L.), And JESUS went Into the Temple and Overturned the Tables of the Money Changers. HEis the same Yesterday, Today and Tommorrow and there's a pile of Pastors Coast to Coast who Need a wake up: The Founding Fathers based it All on UNALIENABLE RIGHTS, ( which come from - - Bingo! - Yes GOD ): But many Church Folks Don't want to be told about Possible UNALIENABLE RESPONSIBILITIES .
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Something else that few people know is that we have a Preamble to the Bill of Rights!
The First 10 Amendments to the
Constitution as Ratified by the States
December 15, 1791
Preamble
Congress OF THE United States
begun and held at the City of New York, on Wednesday
the Fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.:
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
The first ten amendments are "declaratory and restrictive clauses". This means they supersede all other parts of our Constitution and restrict the powers of our Constitution.
A Bill of Rights is basically a list of the rights of the people from which the government is forbidden from interfering. Bills of Rights were nothing new at this point in history. The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, forced King John to respect certain rights of those in his kingdom, such as their right to writs of habeas corpus (meaning their right to appeal unlawful imprisonment), and forced him to admit that the law must control his actions. The English Bill of Rights of 1689 guaranteed certain rights to the people as represented by their members of Parliament against the King, such as freedom to petition the government, freedom from taxation without legislative approval and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. Many of the states had enacted their own bills of rights to protect their own citizens as well.
After the states received their copies of the proposed Constitution, each state was to hold a ratifying convention to discuss the merits of the Constitution and to accept or reject it. Five states, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia and Connecticut, voted to ratify immediately. The rest of the states, however, were slow to get on board. A vigorous and bitter public debate began all over the states between Federalists and Anti-Federalists about whether or not the newly proposed Constitution gave too much power to the government and did too little to protect the rights of individuals. After all, they had just fought a bloody war in order to get rid of an oppressive government. They sure didn't want to create another one! About this time, George Washington wrote to the Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who had helped him in the Revolutionary War. In his letter he talks about the proposed Constitution and the calls for a Bill of Rights
George Washington’s views on the Bill of Rights as expressed in a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette. See the URL for the entire letter. (You will have to copy and paste URL to get it to work)
http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/george-washington-lette...
On the general merits of this proposed Constitution, I wrote to you, some time ago, my sentiments pretty freely. That letter had not been received by you, when you addressed to me the last of yours which has come to my hands. I had never supposed that perfection could be the result of accommodation and mutual concession. The opinion of Mr. Jefferson and yourself is certainly a wise one, that the Constitution ought by all means to be accepted by nine States before any attempt should be made to procure amendments. (Emphasis mine) For, if that acceptance shall not previously take place, men's minds will be so much agitated and soured, that the danger will be greater than ever of our becoming a disunited People. Whereas, on the other hand, with prudence in temper and a spirit of moderation, every essential alteration, may in the process of time, be expected.
You will doubtless, have seen, that it was owing to this conciliatory and patriotic principle that the Convention of Massachusetts adopted the Constitution in toto; but recommended a number of specific alterations and quieting explanations, as an early, serious and unremitting subject of attention. Now, although it is not to be expected that every individual, in Society, will or can ever be brought to agree upon what is, exactly, the best form of government; yet, there are many things in the Constitution which only need to be explained, in order to prove equally satisfactory to all parties. For example: there was not a member of the convention, I believe, who had the least objection to what is contended for by the Advocates for a Bill of Rights and Tryal by Jury. (Emphasis mine) The first, where the people evidently retained every thing which they did not in express terms give up, was considered nugatory as you will find to have been more fully explained by Mr. Wilson and others: And as to the second, it was only the difficulty of establishing a mode which should not interfere with the fixed modes of any of the States, that induced the Convention to leave it, as a matter of future adjustment.
Federalists believed a Bill of Rights was unnecessary because they believed that the Constitution only gave the government limited powers that were specifically listed. The government had no power to do things it was not entitled to in the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton believed that the people were not giving up any rights by accepting the Constitution.
The Federalists also believed, though, that adding a Bill of Rights could be very dangerous. If specific rights to be retained by the people were listed in the Constitution, they believed it would imply that any rights not listed were not protected and that the government would gradually encroach upon these rights.
The Anti-Federalists were not persuaded. They wanted guarantees for such things as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to petition the government and many others, specifically listed in the Constitution.
The impasse was finally overcome by what is known as the Massachusetts Compromise. The Massachusetts ratifying convention finally got enough Anti-Federalists to agree by recommending a number of amendments be adopted by the First Congress under the new constitution. So the Anti-Federalists voted yes, on the promise that a Bill of Rights would be added.
But what happened as we all know, Taken form the book, " Congress came back to Washington and they told him the currency was depreciated, The commissaries also found it difficult to purchase supplies for the immediate wants of the army and impossible to provide any stores in advance. They were left destitute of resources, and the public credit was prostrated in accumulating debts."
In a fit of rage and utter disgust on May 31, 1780 Washington wrote this.. (Very Important to pay attention to what he is saying here:)
"One of the emerging lessons of the war was the NEED FOR A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT."
"Certain I am unless Congress speak in a more decisive tone, unless they are invested with powers by the
several States competent to the great purposes of the war, or assume them as a matter of right,and they and the States respectively act with more energy than they hitherto have done, that our cause is lost....One State will comply with a requisition of Congress, another neglects to do i; a third executes it by halves; and all differ either in the manner, the matter, or so much in point of time, that we are always working up hill, and while such a system as the present one or rather want of one prevails, we shall ever be unable to apply our strength or resources to any advantage"...
Let me add to what i said above this from the book...
..."Since Congress could not, and the states would not, impose taxes sufficient to finance a revolution that had sprung from a Resistance to taxation, the Continental troops were largely supported by the states which they belonged. Some states gave more support than others, but for the troops, being paid in paper money at its nominal value, found in a general that the four months' pay of a private soldier was not enough to pay for a single bushel of wheat. Nor the pay of a colonel oats enough for his horse. It cost 400 Continental dollars to buy a pair of boots or a hat"...
In another letter in 1780, Washington spoke outright for his hatred of these big time war profiteers.- the "monopolizers, forestallers, and engrossers of condign punishment...It is much to be lamented that each state, long ere this, has not hunted down as the pests of society and the greatest enemies we have to the happiness of America. I would to God that one of the most atrocious in each state was hung in gibbets upon a gallows 5 times, as high as the one prepared by Hamen. No punishment, in my opinion, is too great for the man who can build his greatness upon his country's ruin."
What Washington said, he never ever forgot. Especially this was true when the writing of the US Constitution was being drafted. In a letter Washington wrote to Rev. William Gordon on July 8, 1783,
....:"For certain I am, that unless adequate Powers are given to Congress, for the general purposes of the Federal Union that we should soon moulder into dust and become contemptible in the Eyes of Europe, if we are not made the sport of their Politicks, to suppose that hate general concern of this Country can be directed by 13 heads, or one head without without competent powers, is a solecism.".
'The laws of Congress would be supreme, and Congress could use military force, if necessary, to enforce them in every state."...
..."Persuaded I am that the primary cause of all our disorders lies in the difference State Governments, and in the tenacity of that power which pervades the whole of their systems. Whilst independent sovereignity is so ardently contended for...incompatibilty in the laws of different States, and disrespect to those of the general government must render the situation of this great Country, weak, inefficient and disgraceful. It has already done so, almost to the final dissolution of it - weak at home and disregarded
abroad is our present condition, and contemptible enough it is "
Why did Washington state this? This was Washiington taking revenge on the states legislatures for not providing he and his army with the adequate funding throughout the enitre Revolutionary War.
"I cannot conceive of a government in which thre can exist 2 supremes (state and federal)", "A Federal Government which each party may violate at pleasure cannot answer the purpose...We had better take a supreme (federal ) government now than a despot twenty years hence - for come he must."
During the same time Washignton wrote what i shared with you, General Wayne wrote this during the winter months the Continental Army was in Morristown, PA. .
..."Poorly clothed , badly fed and worse paid, some of them not having received a paper dollar for 12 months, exposed to winter's piercing cold, to drifting snows and chiling blasts, with no portection but old worn out coats, tattered linen overalls, and but one blanket between 3 men. In this situation, the eneny begin to work upon their passions, and have found means to circulate some proclamations among them...The Officers in general, as well as myself, find it necessary to stand for hours everyday exposed to wind and weather among the poor naked fellows while they are working at their huts and redoubts, often assisting with our own hands in order to produce a conviction to their minds that we share, and more than share, every vicissitude in common with them; sometimes asking to participate their bread and water. The good effect of this conduct is very conspicious and prevents their murmuring in public, but the delicate mind and eye of humanity are hurt, very much hurt, at their visible distress and private complainings."
Also let me go back to somehing Washignton wrote in his military jounrnal. To add to what General Wayne had said.
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..."Instead of having magazines filled with provisions, we have a scanty pittance scattered here and there in the different States. Instead of having our arsenals well supplied with military stores, they are poorly provided....Instead of having the regiments completed...scarce any state in the union has, at this hour, an eighth of its quota in the field, and little prospect, that I can see, of ever getting more than hlaf. In a word, instead of having everything in readiness to take the field, we have nothing, and instead of having the prospect of a glorious offensive campaign before us, we have a bewildered and gloomy defensive one, unless we should receive a powerful aid of ships, land troops and money from our generous allies, and these, at present, are too contigent to build upon."
Here is the last one.. It shows Washingtons desperate plea to the governors of New England states, to please send troops as they can send.. "The enemy counting upon or want of ability, or upon our want of energy."
But he also said this to them in the same letter
..."have by repeated detachments to the southward, reduced themselves in NY to a situation that invites us to take advantage of it; and should the lucky moment be lost, it is to be feared thatthey will, after subduing the Southern States, raise a force in them sufficent to hold them, and return again to the northward with such a number of men as will render New York secure against any force which we can at this time raise or maintain. Our allies in this country expect and depend upon being supported by us in the attemlt which we are about to make, and those in Europe will be astonsihed should we neglect the favorable opportunity which is now offered'...
This is why Franklin spent so much time in France. When he was pleading with King Louis XVI, to please help us.King Louis XVI listened to those pleas with a opened heart, and soul. He gave America in 1781, 6 million livres. This was also independent of the 4 million livres he enabld Dr Franklin to borrow for the service of the coming year.
With the money pouring into America from France, With the French troops, and French navy coming to help the colonies, Washignton realized to win this war, he had to abandon his attack on NY. To turn his eyes to Virrginia, where Cornwallis had "ensconsed" himself at Yorktown. The way he did this was brillant. He left a mere 5,500 or so Continentals and Conn. State troops spread along a wide are to bottle up the British, Hessian, and Tory trrops in NY. So these troops could not join Cornwallis in Yorktown.
Thing to remember is this..This money did not come from the State Gvovernors at all. The added troops Washington asked and pleaded for from the State Governors did not come. Congress tried all it could to send what little it had in money to help with the finances of the war. Congress nor the States did nothing to really stop the profiteers form the War.
This is why Washignton, and the Federalsits made sure than when the US Consitution was being drawn up, the states had very little power. They did not want a repeat as to what had happened during the Revolutionary War. The only way this country would survive was with a strong centralized government.
A fight which exists to this very day.
Here is how the delegates to the Constitutional Convention voted in favor of voting in favor of the US Constitution. To vote for a strong centralized power with all the power. Washington was very very worried the Virgina Plan would not pass. The delegates were fighting on every word, and clause inside of the plan. To make matters worse, the delegate from New Jersey Attorney General William Patterson purposed his own plan to combat the Virginia Plan. The plan was known as the New Jersey plan.
The plan was this: Leave the Confederation in place, and give voting parity among the states in Congress. Congers would be able to raise taxes and regulate foreign and interstate commerce. Also added a multiple executive with no veto powers over legislation. Like the Va Plan it called for Congress to elect members of the court and the executive. It also espoused
the principle of supremacy of nat'l and state laws, and finally assuming Washington be the 1st President, and never misuse his powers, it gave the nat'l executive the right to use force to ensure state obedience to nat'l law.
So even before the delegates could vote on the Va Plan,, now they had another Plan to argue about, and vote on. The entire Convention was now in absolute gridlock, and deadlock. Washington knew he had to do something drastic to break all of this deadlock, he turned to his Alexander Hamilton to save it all..
Interesting thing about Hamilton is this, up until this very point in the deliberations, he said not a word. But on June 18, 1787, he spoke for 6 hours. But what he said left all in that room-silent and stunned. Only one applauded. That was
Pennsylvania's' Gouvenour Morris. The rest could not believe what Hamilton said.
During the 6 hours speech he went and tore into both the Virginia and New Jersey Plans. He even mocked the delegates who argued for and against the plans. Then he said the following:
"The general power must swallow up States powers. Otherwise it will be swallowed up by them."
He did not end there....He then spoke very slowly. and paused in between each word..."Two....sovereign...powers...can...not....co-exist....within...the....same.....limits"
Delegate arguments- he then sighed after a long pause had "led him to despair that Republican gov't could be established. ...Give all power to the many, they will oppress the few; give all power to the few, they will oppress the many."
Here is what he purposed. a English style of gov't. He said it was the best model for the gov't in the world. He said he doubted "whether anything short of it would do i America". He urged indirect election of a monarch for life. Also the creation of a two house legislature. The Senate or upper House, chosen for life by electors, and an "Assembly" elected by the people to serve for 3 years. He suggested creating a inferior court in each state and a Supreme Court with 12 judges serving for life on good behavior. He urged the abolition of all state military forces, and the "Militia of all the States to be under the sole and exclusive direction of the US, the officers of which to be appointed by them".
Even though Hamilton knew he was creating political suicide. That his enemies would continuously go back to this speech of his charging him for supporting the support of a return of monarchism, and worse British monarchy. Hamilton knew what he was doing. What he did worked. The delegates were so stunned, and shocked by what Hamilton said, they realized that both sides would have to shift sides to form a compromise in which each side would win and each lose something, or they would all loose or win nothing. To the delight of the Federalists and Washington, the Convention voted
to reject this New Jersey Plan, and return all focus on the Va Plan.
Thus putting the nail in the coffin that Washington wanted all along. Not the states to have the power. But the central government.to have it all. Something he was calling for way back during the Revolutionary War.
The second American Revolution was about to begin...Who has more power the States or Federal Gov't?..
http://www.apsanet.org/imgtest/ConstThoughtAntifederalists.pdf
Wake up America, get your head out of the sand, and help take a stand in restoring our Constitution
"One Nation Under God"
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