The essential debate on the Constitution : Federalist and Antifederalist speeches and writings : the brilliant battle of ideas that still shapes the nation / Robert J. Allison and Bernard Bailyn, editors.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 454-474) and index.
Contents:
Introduction / by Robert J. Allison -- Introduction / by Robert J. Allison -- Note on the texts. Alexander Hamilton, Conjectures about the new Constitution, late September 1787 -- James Wilson, Speech at a public meeting, October 6, 1787 -- Brutus I, October 18, 1787 -- A political dialogue, October 24, 1787 -- James Madison to Thomas Jefferson, October 24, 1787 -- Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, December 20 1787 -- Cato III, October 25, 1787 -- Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. I, October 27, 1787 -- Part 2: Opposition organizes. Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts General Court, November 3, 1787 -- Letters from the Federal Farmer to The Republican, November 8, 1787 -- Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, November 13, 1787 -- George Mason, Objections to the Constitution, November 22, 1787 -- Robert Yates and John Lansing, Jr., to Governor George Clinton, January 14, 1788 -- Part 3. Toward a new understanding of politics. Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 10, November 22, 1787 -- A Countryman (Roger Sherman) II, November 22, 1787 -- Brutus IV, November 29, 1787 -- Americanus (John Stevens, Jr.) III, November 30, 1787 -- Samuel Adams to Richard Henry Lee, December 3, 1787 -- A Landholder (Oliver Ellsworth) VII, December 17, 1787 -- Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist No. 23, December 18, 1787 -- Brutus VII, January 3, 1788 -- Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. 30, December 28, 1787 -- Part 4: Slavery and liberty. Luther Martin, The genuine information VIII, January 22, 1788 -- Giles Hickory (Noah Webster) I, December 1787 -- Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 39, January 16, 1788 -- On the new Constitution, January 28, 1788 -- Brutus XI, January 31, 1788 -- Civis (David Ramsay) to the citizens of South Carolina, February 4, 1788 -- Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 54, February 12, 1788 -- Part 5: The future of the American republic. Publius (James Madison), The Federalist no. 51, February 6, 1788 -- Brutus XII, February 7 and February 14, 1788 -- Harry Innes to John Brown, February 20, 1788 -- Joseph Spencer to James Madison, Enclosing John Leland's objections, February 28, 1788 -- Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. 70, March 15, 1788 -- Brutus XV, March 20, 1788 -- Publius (Alexander Hamilton), The Federalist no. 78, May 28, 1788 -- George Washington to John Armstrong, April 25, 1788 -- Part 6: The state ratifying conventions. Pennsylvania. James Wilson, Opening address, November 24, 1787 -- James Wilson and John Smilie debate the need for a bill of rights, November 28, 1787 -- Benjamin Rush speaks against a bill of rights, November 30, 1787 -- James Wilson on the slave-trade clause, December 3, 1787 -- Robert Whitehill replies to Wilson on the slave-trade clause, December 3, 1787 -- Dissent of the minority of the Pennsylvania Convention, December 18, 1787 -- Massachusetts. Fisher Ames on biennial elections and the "volcano" of democracy, January 15, 1788 -- An exchange on the powers of Congress and its probable corruption, January 17, 1788 -- Amos Singletary and Jonathan Smith on "Leviathan" and on the danger of anarchy, January 25, 1788 -- Daniel Shute and William Jones on religious tests, January 31, 1788 -- John Hancock proposes ratification with recommended amendments, January 31, 1788 -- Samuel Adams supports Hancock's proposition, January 31, 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 -- South Carolina. Charles Cotesworth Pinckney explains America's unique "structure of freedom," May 14, 1788 -- Patrick Dollard fears a corrupt and despotic aristocracy, May 22, 1788 -- Virginia. Patrick Henry's opening speech opposing ratification, June 4, 1788 -- Patrick Henry states his main objections, and James Madison responds, June 12, 1788 -- George Mason and James Madison debate the slave-trade clause, June 17, 1788 -- New York. Robert R. Livingston, Melancton Smith, and John Jay debate aristocracy, representation, and corruption, June 23, 1788 -- Melancton Smith fears the federal taxing power, June 27, 1788 -- North Carolina. James Iredell on the presidency and the pardoning power, July 28, 1788 -- James Iredell on impeachment, July 28, 1788 -- Henry Abbot and James Iredell debate religious tests, July 30, 1788 -- The Rev. David Caldwell and Samuel Spencer debate religious toleration, July 30, 1788 -- The Constitution -- Chronology, 1774-1804 -- Biographical notes -- Note on the texts.
Summary:
"The threat of foreign and domestic corruption; the balance of power between the federal government and the states and the controversial role of the Supreme Court; the danger of an unrestrained president and the potential remedy of impeachment. During the contest to ratify the Constitution America's founding generation wrestled with key questions and challenges that continue to test our nation today, and their original arguments still have much to teach us. Here are more than sixty newspaper articles, pamphlets, speeches, and private letters from the debate by more than forty writers, including the essential Federalist essays of James Madison and Alexander Hamilton and the insightful, often prophetic Antifederalist writings of "Brutus" and the "Federalist Farmer""--Back cover.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.