John Jay and James Madison - The Federalist Papers

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FEDERALIST No. 1. General Introduction

For the Independent Journal. Saturday, October 27, 1787

HAMILTON

To the People of the State of New York:

AFTER an unequivocal enjoy of the inefficacy of the subsisting federal government, you are called upon to planned on a new Constitution for the USA of America. The difficulty speaks its very own importance; comprehending in its results not anything less than the life of the UNION, the safety and welfare of the elements of which it is composed, the destiny of an empire in lots of respects the maximum exciting inside the international. It has been frequently remarked that it seems to had been reserved to the human beings of this country, with the aid of their behavior and example, to determine the important question, whether societies of men are definitely succesful or now not of organising excellent government from reflection and preference, or whether or not they're for all time destined to rely for their political constitutions on accident and pressure. If there be any truth inside the remark, the crisis at which we're arrived may also with propriety be appeared because the technology in which that selection is to be made; and a incorrect election of the part we will act can also, on this view, should be taken into consideration as the general misfortune of mankind.

This concept will upload the inducements of philanthropy to the ones of patriotism, to intensify the solicitude which all thoughtful and accurate men should experience for the event. Happy will it be if our preference should be directed through a sensible estimate of our real hobbies, unperplexed and impartial by considerations no longer linked with the public precise. But this is a thing greater ardently to be wished than significantly to be expected. The plan supplied to our deliberations affects too many particular pursuits, innovates upon too many neighborhood institutions, now not to involve in its dialogue an expansion of items foreign to its deserves, and of views, passions and prejudices little favorable to the discovery of reality.

Among the most ambitious of the boundaries which the brand new Constitution will need to stumble upon may readily be distinguished the obvious interest of a certain elegance of guys in each State to face up to all modifications which might also chance a diminution of the strength, emolument, and result of the places of work they maintain below the State institutions; and the perverted ambition of any other elegance of men, who will either desire to aggrandize themselves by way of the confusions of their u . S . A ., or will flatter themselves with fairer possibilities of elevation from the subdivision of the empire into numerous partial confederacies than from its union beneath one government.

It isn't always, but, my design to reside upon observations of this nature. I am nicely conscious that it might be disingenuous to clear up indiscriminately the competition of any set of guys (simply because their situations would possibly challenge them to suspicion) into fascinated or formidable views. Candor will oblige us to admit that even such men may be actuated with the aid of upright intentions; and it can not be doubted that a whole lot of the opposition which has made its look, or may hereafter make its look, will spring from sources, innocent as a minimum, if not respectablethe honest mistakes of minds led off target via preconceived jealousies and fears. So numerous indeed and so powerful are the reasons which serve to present a fake bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see smart and exact guys on the incorrect in addition to on the right side of questions of the primary importance to society. This condition, if duly attended to, might furnish a lesson of moderation to individuals who are ever so much persuaded of their being within the right in any controversy. And a similarly purpose for caution, on this admire, is probably drawn from the mirrored image that we aren't continually positive that individuals who advocate the truth are motivated with the aid of purer concepts than their antagonists. Ambition, avarice, private animosity, birthday celebration opposition, and lots of other motives not extra laudable than these, are apt to operate as nicely upon individuals who guide as those who oppose the proper side of a query. Were there not even these inducements to moderation, not anything can be more sick-judged than that intolerant spirit which has, at all times, characterized political parties. For in politics, as in religion, it is similarly absurd to purpose at making proselytes through fireplace and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured through persecution.

And yet, but just these sentiments will be allowed to be, we've already sufficient symptoms that it will occur on this as in all former cases of terrific country wide dialogue. A torrent of irritated and malignant passions could be set free. To judge from the conduct of the other events, we will be led to finish that they'll mutually desire to evince the justness of their evaluations, and to growth the quantity in their converts via the loudness in their declamations and the bitterness of their invectives. An enlightened zeal for the electricity and performance of government can be stigmatized because the offspring of a temper keen on despotic electricity and hostile to the ideas of liberty. An over-scrupulous jealousy of chance to the rights of the humans, that is more normally the fault of the head than of the coronary heart, will be represented as mere pretense and artifice, the stale bait for popularity on the expense of the public true. It will be forgotten, on the only hand, that jealousy is the same old concomitant of affection, and that the noble enthusiasm of liberty is apt to be inflamed with a spirit of slim and illiberal mistrust. On the other hand, it is going to be similarly forgotten that the energy of presidency is important to the safety of liberty; that, within the contemplation of a legitimate and well-informed judgment, their interest can never be separated; and that a dangerous ambition greater often lurks in the back of the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the human beings than beneath the forbidden appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government. History will teach us that the previous has been observed a miles greater sure street to the advent of despotism than the latter, and that of these guys who've overturned the liberties of republics, the best range have begun their profession via paying an obsequious court to the humans; starting up demagogues, and finishing tyrants.

In the route of the previous observations, I actually have had a watch, my fellow-citizens, to putting you upon your guard in opposition to all tries, from something quarter, to influence your choice in a depend of the utmost moment for your welfare, with the aid of any impressions other than the ones which might also end result from the evidence of fact. You will, no question, on the identical time, have gathered from the overall scope of them, that they proceed from a source not unfriendly to the new Constitution. Yes, my countrymen, I very own to you that, after having given it an attentive consideration, I am surely of opinion it is your hobby to adopt it. I am convinced that this is the safest path on your liberty, your dignity, and your happiness. I affect now not reserves which I do not feel. I will no longer amuse you with an look of deliberation when I have determined. I frankly well known to you my convictions, and I will freely lay before you the motives on which they may be founded. The cognizance of excellent intentions disdains ambiguity. I shall no longer, however, multiply professions in this head. My motives have to remain inside the depository of my own breast. My arguments can be open to all, and can be judged of by way of all. They shall as a minimum be provided in a spirit in order to now not disgrace the reason of truth.