Bookmark this collection and forward to others in your study groups.As you read what the Antifederalists feared about the central government created by the draft Constitution, ask yourself how many of those fears have come to fruition.
And how many more still await the dying Republic.
Tempus fugit.
Amazing Resource. Thank you sir.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteI confess it's been a while since I read these - so I decided last night to commit to re-reading all of them.
Centinel #1 is ESPECIALLY striking.
"...It will not be controverted that the legislative is the highest delegated power in government, and that all others are subordinate to it. The celebrated Montesquieu establishes it as a maxim, that legislation necessarily follows the power of taxation.
By sect. 8, of the first article of the proposed plan of government, "the Congress are to have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defence and general welfare of the United States, but all duties, imposts and excises, shall be uniform throughout the United States."
Now what can be more comprehensive than these words; not content by other sections of this plan, to grant all the great executive powers of a confederation, and a STANDING ARMY IN TIME OF PEACE, that grand engine of oppression, and moreover the absolute control over the commerce of the United States and all external objects of revenue, such as unlimited imposts upon imports, etc._[underline]they are to be vested with every species of internal taxation[/underline];
whatever taxes, duties and excises that they may deem requisite for the general welfare, may be imposed on the citizens of these states, levied by the officers of Congress, distributed through every district in America; and the collection would be enforced by the standing army, however grievous or improper they may be.
The Congress may construe every purpose for which the state legislatures now lay taxes, to be for the general welfare, and thereby seize upon every object of revenue..."
There's more - MUCH more. These men were prophets!
Though they knew what would happen, they couldn't foresee that it would take nearly 2 centuries to reach the point where we stand today.
Still, I believe our Constitution and BOR to be the best government yet designed by men - if the despots in DC would but follow it.`
DD