Unknown - The Antifederalist Papers

From The Boston Gazette and Country Journal, November 26, 1787.

I am pleased to see a spirit of inquiry burst the band of constraint uponthe subject of the NEW PLAN for consolidating the governments of the UnitedStates, as recommended by the late Convention. If it is suitable to the GENIUSand HABITS of the citizens of these states, it will bear the strictest scrutiny. The PEOPLE are the grand inquest who have a RIGHT to judge of its merits. Thehideous daemon of Aristocracy has hitherto had so much influence as to bar thechannels of investigation, preclude the people from inquiry and extinguish everyspark of liberal information of its qualities. At length the luminary ofintelligence begins to beam its effulgent rays upon this important production;the deceptive mists cast before the eyes of the people by the delusivemachinations of its INTERESTED advocates begins to dissipate, as darkness fliesbefore the burning taper; and I dare venture to predict, that in spite of thosemercenary dectaimers, the plan will have a candid and complete examination. Those furious zealots who are for cramming it down the throats of the people,without allowing them either time or opportunity to scan or weigh it in thebalance of their understandings, bear the same marks in their features as thosewho have been long wishing to erect an aristocracy in THIS COMMONWEALTH [ofMassachusetts]. Their menacing cry is for a RIGID government, it matters littleto them of what kind, provided it answers THAT description. As the plan nowoffered comes something near their wishes, and is the most consonant to theirviews of any they can hope for, they come boldly forward and DEMAND itsadoption. They brand with infamy every man who is not as determined and zealousin its favor as themselves. They cry aloud the whole must be swallowed or noneat all, thinking thereby to preclude any amendment; they are afraid of having itabated of its present RIGID aspect. They have strived to overawe or seduceprinters to stifle and obstruct a free discussion, and have endeavored to hastenit to a decision before the people can duty reflect upon its properties. Inorder to deceive them, they incessantly declare that none can discover anydefect in the system but bankrupts who wish no government, and officers of thepresent government who fear to lose a part of their power. These zealouspartisans may injure their own cause, and endanger the public tranquility byimpeding a proper inquiry; the people may suspect the WHOLE to be a dangerousplan, from such COVERED and DESIGNING schemes to enforce it upon them. Compulsive or treacherous measures to establish any government whatever, willalways excite jealousy among a free people: better remain single and alone, thanblindly adopt whatever a few individuals shall demand, be they ever so wise. Ihad rather be a free citizen of the small republic of Massachusetts, than anoppressed subject of the great American empire. Let all act understandingly ornot at all. If we can confederate upon terms that wilt secure to us ourliberties, it is an object highly desirable, because of its additional securityto the whole. If the proposed plan proves such an one, I hope it will beadopted, but if it will endanger our liberties as it stands, let it be amended;in order to which it must and ought to be open to inspection and free inquiry. The inundation of abuse that has been thrown out upon the heads of those whohave had any doubts of its universal good qualities, have been so redundant,that it may not be improper to scan the characters of its most strenuousadvocates. It will first be allowed that many undesigning citizens may wish itsadoption from the best motives, but these are modest and silent, when comparedto the greater number, who endeavor to suppress all attempts for investigation. These violent partisans are for having the people gulp down the gilded pillblindfolded, whole, and without any qualification whatever. These consistgenerally, of the NOBLE order of C[incinnatu]s, holders of public securities,men of great wealth and expectations of public office, B[an]k[er]s andL[aw]y[er]s: these with their train of dependents form the Aristocratickcombination. The Lawyers in particular, keep up an incessant declamation forits adoption; like greedy gudgeons they long to satiate their voracious stomachswith the golden bait. The numerous tribunals to be erected by the new plan ofconsolidated empire, will find employment for ten times their present numbers;these are the LOAVES AND FISHES for which they hunger. They will probably findit suited to THEIR HABITS, if not to the HABITS OF THE PEOPLE. There may bereasons for having but few of them in the State Convention, lest THEIR '0@'INTEREST should be too strongly considered. The time draws near for the choiceof Delegates. I hope my fellow-citizens will look well to the characters oftheir preference, and remember the Old Patriots of 75; they have never led themastray, nor need they fear to try them on this momentous occasion.

This essay is an excerpted from a speech of William Grayson, June 11, 1788,in Jonathan Elliot (ed.), The Debates in the Several State Conventions on theAdoption of the Federal Constitution.......
(Philadelphia, 1876) 5 vols.,III, 274-79.

The adoption of this government will not meliorate our own particularsystem. I beg leave to consider the circumstances of the Union antecedent tothe meeting of the Convention at Philadelphia. We have been told of phantomsand ideal dangers to lead us into measures which will, in my opinion, be theruin of our country. If the existence of those dangers cannot be proved, ifthere be no apprehension of wars, if there be no rumors of wars, it will placethe subject in a different light, and plainly evince to the world that therecannot be any reason for adopting measures which we apprehend to be ruinous anddestructive. When this state [Virginia] proposed that the general governmentshould be improved, Massachusetts was just recovered from a rebellion which hadbrought the republic to the brink of destruction from a rebellion which wascrushed by that federal government which is now so much contemned and abhorred. A vote of that august body for fifteen hundred men, aided by the exertions ofthe state, silenced all opposition, and shortly restored the public tranquility. Massachusetts was satisfied that these internal commotions were so happilysettled, and was unwilling to risk any similar distresses by theoreticexperiments. Were the Eastern States willing to enter into this measure? Werethey willing to accede to the proposal of Virginia? In what manner was itreceived? Connecticut revolted at the idea. The Eastern States, sir, wereunwilling to recommend a meeting of a convention. They were well aware of thedangers of revolutions and changes. Why was every effort used, and suchuncommon pains taken, to bring it about? This would have been unnecessary, hadit been approved of by the people. Was Pennsylvania disposed for the receptionof this project of reformation? No, sir. She was even unwilling to amend herrevenue laws, so as to make the five per centum operative. She was satisfiedwith things as they were. There was no complaint, that ever I heard of, fromany other part of the Union, except Virginia. This being the case amongourselves, what dangers were there to be apprehended from foreign nations? Itwill be easily shown that dangers from that quarter were absolutely imaginary. Was not France friendly? Unequivocally so. She was devising new regulations ofcommerce for our advantage. Did she harass us with applications for her money? Is it likely that France will quarrel with us? Is it not reasonable to supposethat she will be more desirous than ever to cling, after losing the Dutchrepublic, to her best ally? How are the Dutch? We owe them money, it is true;and are they not willing that we should owe them more? Mr. [John] Adams appliedto them for a new loan to the poor, despised Confederation. They readilygranted it. The Dutch have a fellow-feeling for us. They were in the samesituation with ourselves.