“The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
Centralization of power, standing armies, an elected king – would lead to a mighty empire, rather than a land of liberty. That’s what Patrick Henry warned about in his 2nd speech during the Virginia Ratifying Convention – June 5, 1788. Path to Liberty: May...
In his last Antifederalist paper, Cato once again rails against centralization and consolidation of power – a consistent message for his entire series. Citing Montesquieu, he warns that all governments expand with “an insensible descent to evil.” The remedy?...
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...
Cato was one of the first Antifederalist writers to examine the executive branch. He predicted it would “tend either to the establishment of a vile and arbitrary aristocracy, or monarchy,” with a permanent class of elites ruling from on high. Path to Liberty: March 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...