THE FATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA presents the most interesting and important question in the world: whether societies really are capable of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force. We have finally reached the era in which that decision can be made.
The Breadth of the Constitution
The Constitution for the United States of America comprehends in its consequences nothing less than the existence of a nation, the safety and welfare of its parts, and the fate of its empire.
Its construction was directed by a judicious estimate of our true interests, unperplexed and unbiased by considerations unconnected to the public good. Its passage adds to the good fortune of mankind.
To this philanthropic spirit we can add the spirit of patriotism that we and our posterity must all feel for the event.
Some Invariably Oppose Change, Some Favor Confusion, and Some Hope for Impossible Alternatives
The Constitution affected too many particular interests and local institutions for its opponents not to have raised issues foreign to its merits. Their views, passions and prejudices little favored the discovery of truth.
Resistance arose from those officeholders whose power, emolument, or consequence would be diminished.
Some harbored the perverted ambition to aggrandize themselves by confusion of the issues.
Others flattered themselves with fairer prospect of elevation to higher positions in separate confederacies than from union under one Federal government.
The design of these papers, however, is not to dwell upon observations of this nature.
The fate of the United States of America presents the most interesting and important question in the world: whether societies really are capable of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force. We have finally reached the era in which that decision can be made.
Minds Are often Led Astray by Preconceived Jealousies and Fears
It is unfair to question the motives of interested or ambitious individuals merely because their situations might subject them to suspicion. Such individuals are frequently motivated by upright intentions.
Opposition often springs from the honest errors of minds led astray by preconceived jealousies and fears.
The causes of false bias to the judgment are so numerous and powerful that wise and good individuals are on the wrong as well the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society.
This circumstance furnishes a lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy.
Base Instincts Operate Alike on Those Who Support the Truth as well as Those Who Oppose It
A further reason for caution is the uncertainty whether those who advocate the truth are influenced by purer principles than their antagonists.
Ambition, avarice, personal animosity, party opposition, and less laudable motives operate alike on those who support as well as those who oppose the right side of any question.
To these can be added the spirit of intolerance that political parties sometimes promote.
In politics as in religion, it is absurd to persuade by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.
The causes of false bias to the judgment are so numerous and powerful that wise and good individuals are on the wrong as well the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society. This circumstance furnishes a lesson of moderation to those who are ever so much persuaded of their being in the right in any controversy.
Be Wary of the Populist Who Jealously Champions the Rights of the People
A vigorous government is essential to liberty.
In all cases of great national discussion, moderation is besieged with torrents of angry and malignant passions. Each side evinces the justness of its opinions and seeks to increase converts by loudness of declamation and bitterness of invective.
On the one hand, a zeal for energetic and efficient government will be branded the offspring of a despotic temperament.
On the other hand, those who appear overly solicitous of the dangers to the rights of the People can be denounced as pretentious populists opposed to the public good.
Of the two, history teaches the more certain road to the introduction of despotism is paved by those who appear the most jealous of any danger to the rights of the People.
Jealousy is a defect which results from intense love. It originates in the head rather than the heart.
Jealousy can infect a noble enthusiasm for liberty with a narrow-minded spirit of distrust.
A dangerous ambition for honor or preference can lurk behind the specious mask of zealous advocacy for the rights of the People.
Of those who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number began their careers paying obsequious court to the People. They commenced as demagogues, and ended as tyrants.
But in the private circles of those who oppose the Constitution, we will always hear whispered how one part might be ‘improved’ – or even ‘removed.’ Doctrines like these are quietly propagated until they have enough votaries to countenance their open avowal. Such doctrines are calculated to fan dissension and promote dismemberment of the United States. They are as clear in object as unsound in practice.
Those Who Oppose the Constitution Are Subtle, So Be Wary of Any Campaign to “Improve” It
It might now be thought superfluous to offer arguments to prove the utility of forming the United States.
But in the private circles of those who oppose the Constitution, we will always hear whispered how one part might be “improved” – or even “removed.”
Doctrines like these are quietly propagated until they have enough votaries to countenance their open avowal.
Such doctrines are calculated to fan dissension and promote dismemberment of the United States.
They are as clear in object as unsound in practice.
The Objects of the 85 Papers
Our Constitution plots the safest course for the liberty, dignity, and happiness of the People. These papers will discuss the following particulars:
The utility of the Constitution to our political prosperity –
The insufficiency of the Articles of Confederation to preserve that prosperity –
The necessity of an energetic Federal government to attain this object –
How the Constitution conforms to the true principles of republican government –
How the Constitution is based on State constitutions – and lastly –
The additional security its adoption affords to the preservation of republican government, liberty and prosperity.
In Federalist 2, I examine the advantages of creating the United States, and explain the evils and dangers to every State from its dissolution.
Hamilton
[Ed. note Federalist 1: As will appear, the authors principally discuss the interaction of the People (consisting of voting citizens), State governments, and the Federal government created by the Constitution. Accordingly, all three are capitalized.]