"The first question that presents itself on the subject is"whether the [thirteen] United States should be reduced to one great republic"or whether they should continue [thirteen] confederated republics, under the direction and control of a supreme federal head for certain defined national purposes only?"
The greatest concern was that a republic in a large territory would lead to consolidation - for many reasons. Some of which are:
Representatives: "It's impossible to actually have proper representation without succumbing to the dangers of pure democracy"
Clashing Interests: "In a republic, the manners, sentiments, and interests of the people should be similar. If this be not the case, there will be a constant clashing of opinions; and the representatives of one part will be continually striving against those of the other."
This leads to standing armies: "In despotic governments"standing armies are kept up to execute the commands of the prince or the magistrate". A free republic will never keep a standing army to execute its laws. It must depend upon the support of its citizens."
Confidence and Trust: "The different parts of so extensive a country could not possibly be made acquainted with the conduct of their representatives, nor be informed of the reasons upon which measures were founded. The consequence will be, they will have no confidence in their legislature, suspect them of ambitious views, be jealous of every measure they adopt, and will not support the laws they pass."
Abuse of Power: "In so extensive a republic, the great officers of government would soon become above the control [sic] of the people, and abuse their power to the purpose of aggrandizing themselves, and oppressing them."
No Accountability: "They will use the power, when they have acquired it, to the purposes of gratifying their own interest and ambition, and it is scarcely possible, in a very large republic, to call them to account for their misconduct, or to prevent their abuse of power"
Today we live under the largest government in the history of the world. That's consolidation like no other. Washington himself warned of consolidation leading to "a real despotism" in his famous Farewell Address. (When the Federalists and Anti Federalists agreed, you know it was a real fear).
The Antifederalists warned us of the government that would evolve under the Constitution. That is why their objections led to the Bill of Rights, to limit that tendency (though with far too little success that has survived to the present).
Antifederalists opposed the Constitution on the grounds that its checks on federal power would be undermined by expansive interpretations of promoting the "general welfare" (which would be claimed for every law) and the "all laws necessary and proper" clause (which would be used to override limits on delegated federal powers), which would create a federal government with unwarranted and undelegated powers that would be abused.
They warned that the government would not be restricted in its taxing power, and that the legislatures war power was too dangerous: "the power in the federal legislative, to raise and support armies at pleasure, as well in peace as in war, and their control [sic] over the militia, tend, not only to a consolidation of the government, but the destruction of liberty."
"What then may we expect if the new constitution be adopted as it now stands? The great will struggle for power, honor and wealth; the poor become a prey to avarice, insolence and oppression. And while some are studying to supplant their neighbors, and others striving to keep their stations, one villain will wink at the oppression of another, the people be fleeced, and the public business neglected. From despotism and tyranny good Lord deliver us." " George Clinton, Robert Yates, Samuel Bryan, Anti-Federalist Papers
If your American chief, be a man of ambition, and abilities, how easy is it for him to render himself absolute? The army, is in his hands, and if he be a man of address, it will be attached to him, and it will be the subject of long meditation with him to seize the first suspicious moment to accomplish his design; and, sit, will the American spirit solely relieve you when this happens? -Patrick Henry, Speech to the Virginia Convention, June 1788
"He who is void of virtuous attachments in private life is, or very soon will be, void of all regard for his country. There is seldom an instance of a man guilty of betraying his country, who had not before lost the feeling of moral obligations in his private connections." ~ Samuel Adams
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