“[The Federalist Papers] will merit the notice of Posterity; because in it are candidly discussed the principles of freedom & the topics of government, which will always be interesting to mankind so long as they shall be connected in Civil Society.” -George Washington
The first of the Federalist Papers appeared on this day in 1787. Authored by Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 1 clearly states the mission, “After having given it an attentive consideration, I am clearly of opinion it is your interest to adopt [the proposed Constitution].” Hamilton is joined by two other Founding Fathers, John Jay and James Madison, and together they penned a total of eighty-five letters. While each letter was specifically addressed to the people of New York, with the intent of winning ratification in specifically New York, the Federalist Papers have easily endured today to be an indispensable primary source of the meaning behind the U.S. Constitution.
Hamilton begins by explaining that the current government isn’t working, so a new form must take place. Then he goes on and on about how anyone who criticizes him may be untruth and dishonest and have “a false bias.” He offers several warnings, such as, “a dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidden appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government.”
Federalist 1 is really just an introduction to what will be a long series for New York’s newspapers. Hamilton doesn’t offer any specific reasons to support the Constitution in this first letter, he just sets up the outline for “a series of papers,” which will discuss “the advantages of the Union, the certain evils, and the probable dangers.”
The Federalist Papers offer their points through exhaustive discussion, and no one writes more exhaustively than Hamilton. Each letter is signed by Publius, but historians are confident in the authorship which has been assigned. I recommend the entries from Madison as the best ones to read; Hamilton carries on too much.
George Mason was opposed to the Constitution. His foremost reason was it lacked a “Declaration of Rights,” which was later added as the Bill of Rights. An interesting point of opposition from Mason is “The President of the United States has no constitutional Council (a thing unknown in any safe & regular government) he will therefore be unsupported by proper Information & Advice; and will generally be directed by Minions & Favourites.” That’s what has happened. A bad president can be surrounded by no talent hacks eager to tell the emperor he has plenty of clothes.
Mason was not alone. Patrick Henry was also against ratification. During the state ratifying convention he said, “The Federal Convention ought to have amended the old system; for this purpose, they were solely delegated.”
Of course, the Constitution was ratified and has survived to this today. Thomas Jefferson said, “Our peculiar security is in possession of a written Constitution. Let us not make it a blank paper by construction.” Hear, hear.
Overall, the authors believe reason will win the day; “For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.” That’s a fine message, especially for today during a time of rigid divisions between the two major political parties.
