AN INTELLIGENT AND WELL-INFORMED PEOPLE seldom adopt and steadily persevere for many years in an erroneous opinion respecting their interests.
The People of America – intelligent and well-informed – have for a long period uniformly entertained the importance of their continuing firmly united under one Federal government vested with sufficient powers for all general and national purposes. Their opinion merits great respect.
Here I examine whether a cordial union under one efficient Federal government affords the best security that can be devised against hostilities from abroad, or whether this can be more perfectly and punctually done by thirteen or more separate States or by three or more distinct confederacies.
A Federal Government Will Provide the Greatest Safety from All Sources of Conflict
The attention of wise and free individuals necessarily turns first to providing for their own safety.
The safety of the People encompasses a great variety of circumstances and considerations, and naturally affords great latitude to those who wish to define it. For the moment, I will limit myself to those aspects of safety bearing on the preservation of peace and tranquility against dangers from foreign arms and influence, as well as from dangers of the like kind arising from domestic causes.
As the dangers of foreign arms and influence come first in order, it should be examined first, to ascertain whether the People are not right in their opinion that a cordial union – under an efficient national government – affords them the best security that can be devised against hostilities from abroad.
The number of wars which have happened or will happen in the world will always be found to be in proportion to the number and weight of the causes – whether real or pretended – which provoke or invite them. If it should turn out that the United States will give fewer just causes of war than a disunited America, the United States will tend most to preserve the People in a State of peace with other nations.
The People of America – intelligent and well-informed – have for a long period uniformly entertained the importance of their continuing firmly united under one Federal government vested with sufficient powers for all general and national purposes. Their opinion merits great respect.
The just causes of war mostly arise from either a violation of treaties or direct violence.
We have already formed treaties with no less than six foreign nations. Except for the one with Prussia, all the treaties are maritime, and thereby able to annoy and injure us. Our country also has extensive commerce with the countries of Portugal, Spain, and Britain, and we share borders with the territories of Spain and Britain.
It is of high importance to the peace of America that she observe the laws of nations towards all these powers, and to me it appears evident this will be more perfectly and punctually done by one national government than it could be either by thirteen separate States or by three or four distinct confederacies.
A Federal Government Will Have Wiser Counsel than States or Confederacies
With the establishment of an efficient Federal government, the best individuals in the country will not only consent to serve, but also will generally be appointed to manage it.
Unlike assemblies, senates, courts of justice, and executive departments in the States – which can be filled with individuals of town, country, or other limited influence – more general and extensive reputation for talent and other qualifications will be necessary to recommend individuals to offices under the Federal government.
A national government will have the widest field for choice, and never experience a want of proper persons.
The administration, political counsels, and judicial decisions of one Federal government will be more wise, systematical, and judicious than those of individual States, and consequently more satisfactory with respect to other nations, as well as more safe with respect to us.
A Federal Government Will Speak with One Voice
Under a Federal government for the United States, treaties, articles of treaties, and the laws of nations always will be expounded in one sense and executed in the same manner.
Adjudications on the same points and questions by a number of different States or confederacies are less likely to be consistent or in accord, due to the variety of courts and judges that different and independent governments will appoint, and the influence local laws and interests will have on them.
A Federal Government Will Be Less Affected by Local Circumstances
The prospect of present loss or advantage may often tempt the governing party in one or two States to swerve from good faith and justice.
Unless those temptations reach other States, they will have little or no influence on the Federal government. These temptations would prove fruitless, and good faith and justice be preserved, as shown by the treaty of peace with Britain.
But even where the governing party in a State should be disposed to resist the temptation to swerve from good faith and justice, upon an actual or perceived loss or advantage affecting a great number of a State’s inhabitants, the governing party may find itself unable to prevent any injustice meditated, or to punish the aggressors.
The Federal government – not being affected by those local circumstances – will neither be induced to commit the wrong themselves, nor want power or inclination to prevent or punish its commission by others.
A Federal Government Will Provide Fewer Just Causes of War
Either designed or accidental violations of treaties or the laws of nations can afford just causes of war.
Such just causes are less to be apprehended under one general government than under several lesser ones, and in that respect the former most favors the safety of the People.
As to those just causes of war which proceed from direct and unlawful violence, one good national government affords vastly more security against dangers of that sort than can be derived from any other quarter.
Direct and unlawful violence is more frequently caused by the passions and interests of a part of a community rather than the whole; and by one or two States rather than an entire nation.
None of the wars with the preexisting tribes and nations of America has been occasioned by aggressions of the Federal government, feeble as it is.
But there are several instances where hostilities with these groups were provoked by the improper conduct of individual States, which were either unwilling or unable or to restrain or punish offenses, thereby occasioning the slaughter of many innocent inhabitants.
The States bordering on foreign nations – acting under the impulse of sudden irritation and a quick sense of apparent interest or injury – will be most likely to excite war with these tribes and nations by direct violence.
Nothing can obviate that danger so effectively as a Federal government, whose wisdom and prudence will not be diminished by the passions which actuate the parties immediately interested.
A Federal Government Will Settle Wars More Easily
Not only will fewer just causes of war be given by a Federal government, it will also be more in its power to accommodate and settle them amicably.
A national government will be more temperate and cool, and thus have more in capacity to act advisedly than an offending State.
The pride of States as well as of individuals naturally disposes them to justify all of their actions, and opposes their acknowledging, correcting, or repairing their errors and offenses.
A Federal government will not be affected by this pride, but instead will proceed with moderation and candor to consider and decide on the means most proper to extricate them from the difficulties which threaten them.
Besides, it is well known that acknowledgments, explanations, and compensations from a strong, united nation are often accepted as satisfactory, while such offers would be rejected as unsatisfactory if given by a state or confederacy of little consideration or power.
The Example of Genoa
In 1685, the state of Genoa offended Louis XIV and endeavored to appease him. Louis demanded they should send their chief magistrate and four senators to France to ask his pardon and receive his terms. Genoa was obliged to submit for the sake of peace.
Would Louis either have demanded or received a like humiliation from Spain, Britain, or any other powerful nation?
In Federalist 4, I explain why a disunited America will be subject to undue foreign influence.