1702. CONSTITUTION (The Federal), Republican opposition to.—
Our first federal
constitution, or Confederation, as it was
called, was framed in the first moments of
our separation from England, in the highest
point of our jealousies of independence as
to her, and as to each other. It formed,
therefore, too weak a bond to produce a
union of action as to foreign nations. This
appeared at once on the establishment of
peace, when the pressure of a common enemy
which had hooped us together during the
war, was taken away. Congress was found
to be quite unable to point the action of the
several States to a common object. A general
desire, therefore took place of amending
the federal constitution. This was opposed
by some of those who wished for monarchy,
to wit, the refugees, now returned; the old
tories, and the timid whigs who prefer tranquillity
to freedom, hoping monarchy might
be the remedy if a state of complete anarchy
could be brought on. A convention, however,
being decided on, some of the monocrats
got elected, with a hope of introducing
an English constitution, when they found that
the great body of the delegates were strongly
for adhering to republicanism, and for giving
due strength to their government under that
form, they then directed their efforts to the
assimilation of all the parts of the new government
to the English constitution as nearly
as was attainable. In this they were not altogether
without success; insomuch that the
monarchical features of the new Constitution
produced a violent opposition to it from the
most zealous republicans in the several
States. For this reason, and because they
also thought it carried the principle of a
consolidation of the States farther than was
requisite for the purpose of producing a
union of action as to foreign powers, it is still
doubted by some whether a majority of the
people of the United States were not against
adopting it. However it was carried through
all the assemblies of the States, though by
very small majorities in the larger States.—
To C. D. Ebeling.
Ford ed., vii, 45.
(1795)
