The writings of James Madison, comprising his public papers and his private correspondence, including numerous letters and documents now for the first time printed. |
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WHO ARE THE BEST KEEPERS OF THE PEOPLE'S LIBERTIES?
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 | The writings of James Madison, |  |
WHO ARE THE BEST KEEPERS OF THE PEOPLE'S LIBERTIES?[67]
Republican.—The people themselves.—The sacred trust can
be no where so safe as in the hands most interested in preserving
it.
Anti-republican.—The people are stupid, suspicious, licentious.
They cannot safely trust themselves. When they
have established government they should think of nothing
but obedience, leaving the care of their liberties to their
wiser rulers.
Republican.—Although all men are born free, and all nations
might be so, yet too true it is, that slavery has been
the general lot of the human race. Ignorant—they have
been cheated; asleep—they have been surprized; divided—
the yoke has been forced upon them. But what is the lesson?
that because the people may betray themselves, they ought
to give themselves up, blindfold, to those who have an interest
in betraying them? Rather conclude that the people
ought to be enlightened, to be awakened, to be united, that
after establishing a government they should watch over it,
as well as obey it.
Anti-republican.—You look at the surface only, where
errors float, instead of fathoming the depths where truth lies
hid. It is not the government that is disposed to fly off
off from the government. Rather say then, enlighten the
government, warn it to be vigilant, enrich it with influence,
words—Submission and Confidence.
Republican.—The centrifugal tendency then is in the
people, not in the government, and the secret art lies in
restraining the tendency, by augmenting the attractive principle
of the government with all the weight that can be added
to it. What a perversion of the natural order of things! to
make power the primary and central object of the social
system, and Liberty but its satellite.
Anti-republican.—The science of the stars can never instruct
you in the mysteries of government. Wonderful as it
may seem, the more you increase the attractive force of
power, the more you enlarge the sphere of liberty; the more
you make government independent and hostile towards the
people, the better security you provide for their rights and
interests. Hence the wisdom of the theory, which, after
limiting the share of the people to a third of the government,
and lessening the influence of that share by the mode and
term of delegating it, establishes two grand hereditary orders,
with feelings, habits, interests, and prerogatives all inveterately
hostile to the rights and interests of the people, yet by
a mysterious operation all combining to fortify the people in
both.
Republican.—Mysterious indeed!—But mysteries belong to
religion, not to government; to the ways of the Almighty,
not to the works of man. And in religion itself there is
nothing mysterious to its author; the mystery lies in the
dimness of the human sight. So in the institutions of man
let there be no mystery, unless for those inferior beings endowed
with a ray perhaps of the twilight vouchsafed to the
first order of terrestrial creation.
Anti-republican.—You are destitute, I perceive, of every
quality of a good citizen, or rather of a good subject. You
have neither the light of faith nor the spirit of obedience. I
denounce you to the government as an accomplice of atheism
and anarchy.
Republican.—And I forbear to denounce you to the people,
though a blasphemer of their rights and an idolater of tyranny.
—Liberty disdains to persecute.
Dec. 20.
From The National Gazette, December 20, 1792. This was the
last of Madison's contributions to the Gazette. He left a volume of the
paper, marking with his initials those which he wrote. Mr. Rives, in
his Life and Times of Madison, iii., 250, n., gives a list of the articles
which is slightly inaccurate.
TO EDMUND PENDLETON.
I am just favored with yours of the 28th Ult. I wish I could remove
your anxiety for the French. The last accounts are so imperfect &
contradictory that it is difficult to make anything of them. They
come also thro' the Brussels & English channels, which increases
the uncertainty. It appears on the whole that the combination agst.
the revolution, and particularly agst. their new Republic, is extremely
formidable, and that there is still greater danger within from the
follies and barbarities which prevail in Paris. On the other hand it
seems tolerably clear that the nation is united against Royalty, and
well disposed to second the Government in the means of defence. At
this distance it is impossible to appreciate particular measures, or
foresee the turn which things may finally take.
The Newspaper tax noticed by the P. has been referred to a Come.
but no report has yet been made. It is of great importance that some
change should take place that will remove the obstruction which has
been thrown in the way of information to the people. In all Govts.
the public censorship is necessary in order to prevent abuses. In
such an one as ours, where the members are so far removed from the
eye of their Constituents, an easy & prompt circulation of public proceedings
is peculiarly essential.
The election of a vice P. has excited in this quarter considerable
animation and called forth comparative portraits of the political
characters of Mr. Adams & Govr. Clinton the only candidates brought
into the field. The former has been exhibited in all its monarchical features;
and the latter in the anti federal colors it wore in 1788. There
are not sufficient data here to calculate with certainty the event of
the contest. The probability is rather favorable to Mr. A; but not
in such a degree as to prevent pretty keen apprehensions among his
friends. As the opposition to him is levelled entirely agst. his political
principles, and is made under very great disadvantages, the extent of
it, whether successful or not, will satisfy him that the people at large
are not yet ripe for his system.
We are informed by the last advices from Europe that the harvest
has generally been scanty, & that in England, particularly it has suffered
prodigiously from the wetness of the season. From this cause,
and the general state of things abroad, a great demand on our stock is
anticipated. Wheat is already up at 9s, & flour at 45s of this currency.
The rise must soon communicate itself to Virginia & it is to
be hoped the farmers will not lose the benefit of it by premature sales.
We all regret the detention of Col. Taylor. I hope the cause of it has
ceased & that we shall soon have his arrival in proof of it. It is
probable that Mr. Jefferson will not remain very long in his public
station; but it is certain that his retirement is not to be ascribed to
the Newspaper calumnies which may have had that in view. With
the greatest affection I remain, Dr sir, Yrs.—Mad. MSS.
| The writings of James Madison, | |