Research Catalog

Details

Description

1. xiv, 258 p.; 24 cm.

Subject

1. Constitutional history > United States
2. United States > History > Confederation, 1783-1789

Genre/Form

1. History

Contents

1. General introduction: a dangerous plan of benefit only to the "aristocratick combination" -- "We have been told of phantoms ..." -- New constitution creates a national government; will not abate foreign influence; dangers of civil war and despotism -- Foreign wars, civil wars, and Indian wars- three bugbears -- Scotland and England- case in point -- The hobgoblins of anarchy and dissensions among the states -- Adoption of the Constitution will lead to civil war -- "The power vested in Congress of sending troops for suppressing insurrections will always enable them to stifle the first struggles of freedom" -- A consolidated government is a tyranny -- On the preservation of parties, public liberty depends -- Unrestricted power over commerce should not be given the national government -- How will the new government raise money? -- The expense to the new government -- Extent of territory under consolidated government too large to preserve liberty or protect property --^
2. Rhode Island is right! -- Europeans admire and federalist decry the present system -- Federalist power will ultimately subvert state authority -- What does history teach? -- Why the Articles failed -- Articles of Confederation simply requires amendments, particularly for commercial power and judicial power; Constitution goes too far -- Certain powers necessary for the common defense, can and should be limited -- Objections to a standing army (I) -- Objections to a standing army (II) -- The use of coercion by the new government (I) -- The use of coercion by the new government (II) -- The use of coercion by the new government (III) -- Objections to national control of the militia -- A Virginia antifederalist on the issue of taxation -- Federal taxation and the doctrine of implied powers (I) -- Federal taxation and the doctrine of implied powers (II) -- The problem of concurrent taxation -- Federal taxing power must be restrained -- Representation and internal taxation --^
3. Factions and the Constitution -- Some reactions to federalist arguments -- Appearance and reality- the form is federal; the effect is national -- On the motivations and authority of the founding fathers -- "The quantity of power the Union must possess is one thing; the mode of exercising the powers given is quite a different consideration" (I) -- "The quantity of power the Union must possess is one thing; the mode of exercising the powers given is quite a different consideration" (II) -- What Congress can do; what a state can not -- Powers of national government dangerous to state governments; New York as an example.
4. "Where then is the restraint?" -- "Balance" of departments not achieved under new constitution -- No separation of departments results in no responsibility -- On constitutional conventions (I) -- On constitutional conventions (II) -- Do checks and balances really secure the rights of the people? -- On the guarantee of congressional biennial elections -- A plea for the right of recall -- Apportionment and slavery: northern and southern views -- Will the House of Representatives be genuinely representative? (I) -- Will the House of Representatives be genuinely representative? (II) -- Will the House of Representatives be genuinely representative? (III) -- Will the House of Representatives be genuinely representative? (IV) -- The danger of congressional control of elections -- Will the Constitution promote the interests of favorite classes? -- Questions and comments on the constitutional provisions regarding the election of congressmen --^
5. On the organization and powers of the Senate (I) -- On the organization and powers of the Senate (II) -- On the organization and powers of the Senate (III) -- On the organization and powers of the Senate (IV) -- The provisions for impeachment -- Various fears concerning the executive department -- On the mode of electing the president -- The character of the executive office -- The powers and dangerous potentials of his elected majesty -- The presidential terms of office -- On the electoral college; on re-eligibility of the president -- Does the presidential veto power infringe on the separation of departments? -- The president as military king -- A note protesting the treaty-making provisions of the Constitution -- An antifederalist view of the appointing power under the Constitution -- The power of the judiciary (I) -- The power of the judiciary (II) -- The power of the judiciary (III) -- The power of the judiciary (IV) -- The federal judiciary and the issue of trial by jury --^
6. On the lack of a Bill of Rights -- Concluding remarks: evils under confederacy exaggerated; Constitution must be drastically revised before adoption.

Owning institution

1. Harvard Library

Bibliography (note)

1. Bibliography : p. 253-254.

Processing action (note)

1. committed to retain