[Barsoom 01] • The Debate on the Constitution · Part One by Bailyn, Bernard -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Acknowledgments Contents Debates in the Press and in Private Correspondence

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" Alexander Hamilton's Conjectures About the New Constitution, September 1787 "A Revolution Effected by Good Sense and Deliberation," September 24, 1787 David Redick to William Irvine, September 24, 1787. "The Loss of American Liberty" Strictures on the Proposed Constitution, September 26, 1787 "An American Citizen" [Tench Coxe] I, September 26, 1787. The English and American Constitutions Contrasted "An American Citizen" [Tench Coxe] II, September 28, 1787. Senators and Nobles "An American Citizen" [Tench Coxe] III, September 29, 1787. An Uncorrupted House "Cato" I, September 27, 1787. Deliberate with Coolness, Analyze with Criticism, Reflect with Candor Reply to "Cato" I: "Caesar" I, October 1,1787. On the Language of Distrust Rebuttal to "Caesar" I: "Cato" II, October 11, 1787. On the Right of Free Deliberation James Madison to George Washington, September 30, 1787. Congress Forwards the Constitution to the States Richard Henry Lee to George Mason, October 1, 1787. On the Deviousness of Congress's Action, and the Need for Amendments Rev. James Madison to James Madison, c. October 1, 1787. For an Experimental Period and an Absolute Separation of Powers "Southwark," October 3, 1787. Antifederalists-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. "Every Thing Which Is Not Given, Is Reserved" 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 1, 1787. To Defeat a Monstrous Aristocracy 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". Rebuttal to "An Officer of the Late Continental Army": "Plain Truth," November 10, 1787. "I Have Answered All the Objections" Reply to Wilson's Speech: "Cincinnatus" [Arthur Lee] V, November 29, 1787. "O Sense Where Is Your Guard! Shame Where Is Your Blush!" "An Old Whig" [George Bryan et al.] I, October 12, 1787. No Amendments Will Ever Be Made Without Violent Convulsion or Civil War "Marcus," October 15, 1787. Interests and the Constitution "A Citizen of America" [Noah Webster], October 17, 1787. An Examination Into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution "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" 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 Thomas Jefferson Replies to Madison, December 20, 1787. "The Will of the Majority Should Always Prevail" "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 the Security of Liberty" "John Humble," October 29, 1787. "To Lick the Feet of Our Well Born Masters" "Americanus" [John Stevens, Jr.] I, November 2, 1787. "We Must Think, We Must Reason, For Ourselves" Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts General Court, November 3, 1787. "The Greatest Men May Err" Reply to Elbridge Gerry: "A Landholder" [Oliver Ellsworth] IV, November 26, 1787. "To Alarm the Fears of the People" A Further Reply to Elbridge Gerry: "A Landholder" [Oliver Ellsworth] V, December 3, 1787. "To Combat Phantoms" Letters from the "Federal Farmer" to "The Republican," November 8, 1787. "Examine Coolly Every Article, Clause, and Word" Refutation of the "Federal Farmer": Timothy Pickering to Charles Tillinghast, December 24, 1787. "The Best Constitution We . . . Have Any Right To Expect" George Washington to Bushrod Washington, November 10, 1787. "Is It Best for the States to Unite, or Not to Unite?" 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" "Publius," The Federalist VI [Alexander Hamilton], November 14, 1787. "Men Are Ambitious, Vindictive and Rapacious" "Brutus" III, November 15, 1787. "Representation Is Merely Nominal-A Mere Burlesque" 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 for Our Good Is as Much to Be Desired as the Food We Eat" "Publius," The Federalist VIII [Alexander Hamilton], November 20, 1787. Militarism, the Inevitable Result of Disunion "Publius," The Federalist IX [Alexander Hamilton], November 21, 1787. A Confederate Republic: The Internal Advantages of a Republican with the External Force of a Monarchical Government 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" A "Prolix" Comment on Mason's "Objections": James Madison to George Washington, October 18, 1787 Reply to Mason's "Objections": "Civis Rusticus," January 30, 1788. Not to Condemn, But to Correct Answers to Mason's "Objections": "Marcus" [James 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

I, December 28, 1787 II, January 1, 1788 VIII, January 22, 1788 IX, January 29, 1788 XII, February 8, 1788

"The New Roof" [Francis Hopkinson], December 29, 1787. Skilful Architects and Intriguing Old Women "Giles Hickory" [Noah Webster] I, December 1787. On the Absurdity of a Bill of Rights "Agrippa" [James Winthrop] X, January 1, 1788. A Summary View: "This System Ought to Be Rejected" "Publius," The Federalist XXXII-XXXIII [Alexander Hamilton], January 2, 1788. On Repugnancy, Concurrence, and Reciprocal Forbearance "Centinel" [Samuel Bryan] VIII, January 2, 1788. "The Rapacious Hand of Power" "Brutus" VII, January 3, 1788. "Unlimitted Authority in Matters of Revenue"? "Publius," The Federalist XXXIV [Alexander Hamilton], January 4, 1788. State vs. National Revenues: "Calculate . . . on Permanent Causes of Expence" Samuel Osgood to Samuel Adams, January 5, 1788. "An Inexhaustable Fountain of Corruption" "The Republican" to the People, January 7, 1788. "The Principal Circumstances Which Render Liberty Secure" Resolutions of the Tradesmen of the Town of Boston, January 8, 1788. To Promote Trade, Industry, and Morality "Publius," The Federalist XXXVI [Alexander Hamilton], January 8, 1788. The Representation of Interests and Federal Taxation Thomas B. Wait to George Thatcher, January 8, 1788. "Darkness, Duplicity, and Studied Ambiguity" "Brutus" VIII, January 10, 1788. On the Calamity of a National Debt That Cannot Be Repaid, and on Standing Armies "Mark Antony," January 10, 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 10, 1788. The Dangers of a Second Convention Samuel Holden Parsons to William Cushing, January 11, 1788. "Our Security Must Rest in Our Frequently Recurring Back to the People" "Publius," The Federalist XXXVII [James Madison], January 11, 1788. "An Abstract View of the Subject" "Agrippa" [James Winthrop] XII, January n, 15, 18, 1788. "Cherish the Old Confederation Like the Apple of Our Eye" "Publius," The Federalist XXXVIII [James Madison], January 12, 1788. A Bedlam of Criticism and a Counsel of Perfection "Americanus" [John Stevens, Jr.] VI, January 12, 1788. "An Iron Handed Despotism"?

Debates in the State Ratifying Conventions

James Wilson's Opening Address, November 24, 1787 John Smilie Responds to Wilson on the Lack of a Bill of Rights, November 28, 1787 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, November 30, 1787 Benjamin Rush Speaks Against a Bill of Rights, November 30, 1787 William Findley on the Constitution as a Plan for National Consolidation, December 1, 1787 James Wilson Replies to Findley, December 1, 1787 James Wilson on the Slave-Trade Clause, December 3, 1787 Robert Whitehill Replies to Wilson on the Slave-Trade Clause, December 3, 1787 James Wilson's Summation and Final Rebuttal, December 11, 1787 Benjamin Rush on Morality and Government, December 12, 1787 Robert Whitehall's Amendments and the Final Vote, December 12, 1787 Oliver Ellsworth Defends the Taxing Power and Comments on Dual Sovereignties and Judicial Review, January 7, 1788 Governor Samuel Huntington on the Need for Coercive National Power, January 9, 1788 Letter to the Massachusetts Centinel by "Marcus" Objecting to Instructing the Delegates, January 9, 1788 Fisher Ames on Biennial Elections and on the Volcano of Democracy, January 15, 1788 A Sharp Exchange on the Powers of Congress and Its Probable Corruption, January 17, 1788 Major Martin Kinsley on the Excessive Powers of Congress, January 21, 1788 Thomas Dawes, Jr., on Legitimate Standing Armies, January 24, 1788 Amos Singletary and Jonathan Smith on "Leviathan" Swallowing Up "Us Little Folks" and on the Danger of Anarchy, January 25, 1788 Abraham Holmes and Christopher Gore on the Possible Abuses of the Federal Judiciary, January 30, 1788 General William Heath on Slavery, January 30, 1788 Charles Jarvis on the Amendment Procedure: An Irrefutable Argument for Ratification, January 30, 1788 The Reverend Daniel Shute and Colonel William Jones on Religious Tests and Christian Belief, January 31, 1788 John Hancock Proposes Ratification, with Amendments Recommended to "Quiet the Apprehensions of Gentlemen," January 31, 1788 Samuel Adams Supports Hancock's Proposition, January 31, 1788 Samuel Nasson's "Pathetick Apostrophe" to Liberty, and Judge Increase Sumner's Reply, February 1, 1788 Isaac Backus on Religion and the State, Slavery, and Nobility, February 4, 1788 Charles Jarvis Supports Hancock's Strategy on Amendments, February 4, 1788 Nathaniel Barrell, a "Plain Husbandman," Warns of the Passion for Power, but Favors Ratification, February 5, 1788 John Hancock's Final Observations: "We Must All Rise or Fall Together," February 6, 1788 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 and Implementation of the Constitution The Constitution

Biographical Notes Chronology of Events 1774-1804 Notes on State Constitutions, 1776-90 Note on the Texts Notes Index

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