GHIST 225: US History Kevin R. Hardwick Spring 2012 LECTURE 11 The “Critical Period:” 1781-1787

GHIST 225: US HistoryKevin R. Hardwick

Spring 2012 

LECTURE 11The “Critical Period:” 1781-1787

Part Two

GHIST 225: US HistoryKevin R. Hardwick

Spring 2012 Part One: The Politics of Debt in the 1780sPart Two: Arguments for a stronger national government: concerns for property and order

Document: Publius [James Madison], Federalist 51

Map of troop movements in Shay’s Rebellion, sketched by Yale President Ezra Stiles in his diary, Feb. 1787

Contemporary etching of Daniel Shays and his main lieutenant, Jab Shattuck. Note that the artist who drew this image was hostile to the rebels.

George Washington to Henry Lee, Oct. 31st, 1786

“The accounts which are published of the commotions…exhibit a melancholy proof of what our trans-Atlantic foe has predicted; and of another thing perhaps, which is still more to be regretted, and is yet more unaccountable, that mankind when left to themselves are unfit for their own Government. I am mortified beyond expression when I view the clouds that have spread over the brightest morn that ever dawned upon any Country… To be more exposed in the eyes of the world, and more contemptible than we already are, is hardly possible.”

Alexander Hamilton, Letter to James Duane, 1780 (criticizing the draft of the Articles that a year later was ratified):

The primary source of weakness in the Articles was: an excess of the spirit of liberty which has made the particular states show a jealousy of all power not in their own hands; and this jealousy has led them to exercise a right of judging in the last resort of the measures recommended by Congress, and of acting according to their own opinions of their propriety or necessity.

Alexander Hamilton, Letter to James Duane, 1780 (criticizing the draft that a year later was ratified):

The confederation itself is defective and requires to be altered; it is neither fit for war, nor peace. The idea of an uncontrolable sovereignty in each state, over its internal police, will defeat the other powers given to Congress, and make our union feeble and precarious. There are instances without number, where acts necessary for the general good, and which rise out of the powers given to Congress must interfere with the internal police of the states, and there are as many instances in which the particular states by arrangements of internal police can effectually though indirectly counteract the arrangements of Congress.

Alexander Hamilton, Letter to James Duane, 1780 (criticizing the draft that a year later was ratified):

In our case, that of an empire composed of confederated states each with a government completely organised within itself, having all the means to draw its subjects to a close dependence on itself--the danger is . . . that the common sovereign will not have power sufficient to unite the different members together, and direct the common forces to the interest and happiness of the whole.

Alexander Hamilton, Letter to James Duane, 1780 (criticizing the draft that a year later was ratified):

A single man, in each department of administration, would be greatly preferable. It would give us a chance of more knowledge, more activity, more responsibility and of course more zeal and attention.

Alexander Hamilton, Letter to James Duane, 1780 (criticizing the draft that a year later was ratified):

Hamilton wanted to replace the Confederation with "a solid coercive union." The confederation in my opinion should give Congress complete sovereignty; except as to that part of internal police, which relates to the rights of property and life among individuals and to raising money by internal taxes. It is necessary, that every thing, belonging to this, should be regulated by the state legislatures. Congress should have complete sovereignty in all that relates to war, peace, trade, finance, and to the management of foreign affairs, . . .

James Madison, Vices of the Political System, 1787

The Practice of many states in restricting the commercial intercourse with other States, and putting their productions and manufactures on the same footing with those of foreign nations, though not contrary to the federal articles, is certainly adverse to the spirit of the Union, and tends to beget retaliating regulations, not less expensive & vexious in themselves, than they are destructive of the general harmony.

James Madison, Vices of the Political System, 1787

"A sanction is essential to the idea of law, as coercion is to that of government."

James Madison, Federalist 51, 1788

"If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty is this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place, oblige it to control itself."

James Madison, Federalist 51, 1788

"The great desideratum in government is such a modification of the sovereignty as will render it sufficiently neutral between the different factions and interests, to control one part of the society from invading the rights of another, and at the same time sufficiently controlled itself, from setting up an interest adverse to that of the whole of society."