State Ratifying Conventions
We the People or We the States: Patrick Henry’s Anti-Federalist Speech No. 1
In his first speech at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, Patrick Henry challenged the legitimacy of the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, warned against consolidation, and argued that a federal system should start with We the States. Path to Liberty, Fast Friday...
Don’t Trust Government: Antifederalist Cato No. 5
In his 5th paper, Cato reiterates the issues he has with the structure of the executive branch, moves on to reject claims that a free people would never let their government devolve into tyranny, and then rips into the structure of Congress. He warns the system will...
Hamilton’s Dictatorship: Antifederalist Cato No. 2
In response to the first published antifederalist paper from Cato, Alexander Hamilton (likely) launched a scatching attack. Writing as Caesar, he suggests opponents should “take it as it is and be thankful,” and even implies that the choice is Washington...
Urging Caution: Antifederalist Cato No. 1
Just days after the proposed Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, the first of Cato’s Antifederalist papers was published in the New York Journal. In this paper, Cato urged caution, and urged readers to decide for or against the plan based on principle rather than...