Though The Federalist Papers are rightly renowned as a primary exposition of the principles and purposes of the proposed United States Constitution, there were many writers other than John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton who in 1787 and 1788 argued for the Constitution's ratification. Indeed, as Herbert J. Storing, Jr. once observed, "[t]hese 'other' Federalist writings carried the main burden of the public defense of the proposed Constitution . . . [and] several of them were vastly more influential than The Federalist." In a collection that is certain to make a major contribution to our understanding of the American Founding, Friends of the Constitution brings together forty-nine of the most important of these "other" Federalists' writings. Included are the original texts of pamphlets, speeches, and other pro-ratification writings of George Washington, Benjamin Rush, Nicholas Collin, John Dickinson, James Wilson, Tench Coxe, Benjamin Franklin, Noah Webster, Roger Sherman, Fisher Ames, Peletiah Webster, Samuel Tenny, Stephen Hopkins, Oliver Ellsworth, and David Ramsay. Separately they address the underlying themes of the historic Federalist-Anti-Federalist debate: "The Necessity of Union," "Energetic but Limited Government," and "Popular Government and Civic Virtue." The text includes Storing's important assessment of these writings, and the volume includes citations to Storing's monumental seven-volume Complete Anti-Federalist.
Colleen A. Sheehan is a Professor of Political Science at Villanova Univeristy.
Gary L McDowell is Director of the Institute for United States Studies at the University of London.
There were many writers other than John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton who, in 1787 and 1788, argued for the Constitution's ratification. In a collection central to our understanding of the American founding, Friends of the Constitution brings together forty-nine of the most important of these "other" Federalists' writings.
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Editors’ Note xix
Herbert J. Storing, Introduction: “The ‘Other’ Federalist Papers: A Preliminary Sketch” xxi
Benjamin Rush, Prologue: “Address to the People of the United States” 1 The Necessity of Union
Introduction 9
George Washington, Circular to the States 12
“A Pennsylvania Farmer,” Essay 23
“Monitor,” Essay 26
“Common Sense,” Essay 30
“Philodemos,” Essay 32
“A Federalist,” Essay 36
“A Foreign Spectator” [Nicholas Collin], “An Essay on the Means of Promoting Federal Sentiments in the United States”: XXIV, XXV, XXVIII 44
“Fabius” [John Dickinson], The Letters: I–III 57
James Wilson, Speech, Pennsylvania Convention, 24 November 1787 71
“A Freeman” [Tench Coxe], Essays: I–III 88
James Wilson, Speech, State House, 6 October 1787 102
“Philo-Publius” [William Duer], Essays: I–IV 109
“State Soldier,” Essays: I, II, V 113
Letter from George Washington to Charles Carter, 14 December 1787, Extract 135
“A Citizen of New York” [John Jay], Address 137
Benjamin Franklin, Speech by the Federal Convention, 17 September 1787 154 Energetic but Limited Government
Introduction 159
“Socius,” Essay 164
“America” [Noah Webster], Essay 169
“A Countryman” [Roger Sherman], The Letters: II 179
“A Citizen of Philadelphia” [Peletiah Webster], “The Weakness of Brutus Exposed” 183
Fisher Ames, Speech, Massachusetts Convention, 15 January 1788 196
James Wilson, Speech, Pennsylvania Convention, 4 December 1787, afternoon 201
“Fabius” [John Dickinson], The Letters: IV–VI 217
James Wilson, Speech, Pennsylvania Convention, 4 December 1787, morning 231
“Alfredus” [Samuel Tenny], Essay: I 250
“An American Citizen” [Tench Coxe], “Thoughts on the Subject of Amendments”: II–III 257
“A Citizen of New Haven” [Roger Sherman], The Letters: I–II 263
Hugh Williamson, “Remarks on the New Plan of Government” 272
“A Freeman,” Essay to the People of Connecticut 282
“A Landholder” [Oliver Ellsworth], The Letters: I–V, VIII 286 Popular Government and Civic Virtue Introduction 311
“One of Four Thousand,” Essay 316
“Caesar,” The Letters: II 322
“Atticus,” Essays: I–IV 328
“Cato.” Essay 345
“A Democratic Federalist,” Essay 349
“Convention,” Essay 355
“State Soldier,” Essays: III–IV 358
“A Citizen of America” [Noah Webster], “An Examination into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution,” 373
“A Foreign Spectator” [Nicholas Collin], “An Essay on the Means of Promoting Federal Sentiments in the United States”: I, IV, VI, VII, X, XV, XX, XXI, XXIII 406
“Crito” [Stephen Hopkins], Essay on the African Slave Trade 441
“Civis” [David Ramsay], “An Address to the Freemen of South Carolina on the Subject of the Federal Constitution” 450
“One of the People Called Quakers” in the State of Virginia, Essay 457
“An American Citizen” [Tench Coxe], “An Examination of the Constitution of the United States” 459
“Elihu,” Essay 477
“A Landholder” [Oliver Ellsworth], The Letters: VII, XIII 480
“Fabius” [John Dickinson], The Letters: VII–IX 487
James Wilson, Oration on the Fourth of July 1788 502
Benjamin Franklin, Epilogue: Remarks at the Closing of the Federal Convention, 17 September 1787 511 Index 513