Essays on the Constitution of the United States Part 2

"Now there was a day when the sons of G.o.d came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

"And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth G.o.d, and escheweth evil?" &c., &c.

Citizens of Ma.s.sachusetts! like the sons of G.o.d have the members of the late federal convention a.s.sembled together; like them too, have they been infested with the presence of Satan, or such as were influenced by Satanick principles, and who wish to thwart every design that has a tendency to promote the general good of the United States.

Let us take a short view of the characters who composed the late federal convention. Are they not men who, from their infancy, have been nurtured in the principles of liberty, and taught to pay a sacred regard to the rights of human nature? Are they not men who, when the poisonous breath of tyranny would have blasted the flower of Independence in its bud, and veiled every ray of freedom in the clouds of lawless despotism, n.o.bly stepped forth in defence of their injured country's rights, and through the influence of whose exertions, favoured by the protection of an over-ruling Power, the thick fog of despotism vanished like the early dew before the powerful rays of the resplendent luminary of the universe? Are they not honest, upright and just men, who fear G.o.d and eschew evil?

With few exceptions, they are mostly men of this character; and, Citizens of Ma.s.sachusetts, they have formed a government adequate to the maintaining and supporting the rank and dignity of America in the scale of nations; a government which, if adopted, will protect your trade and commerce, and cause business of every kind rapidly to increase and flourish; it is a government which wants only a candid perusal and due attention paid to it, to recommend it to every well-wisher to his country.

Brethren and citizens, hearken to the voice of men who have dictated only for your and posterity's good; men who ever

"Have made the publick good their only aim, And on that basis mean to build their fame."

Listen not to the insinuations of those who will glory only in your destruction, but wisely persevere in the paths of rect.i.tude.

Ca.s.sIUS.

Ca.s.sius, VI.

The Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette, (Number 387)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1787.

For the Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette.

MR. ALLEN:

Through the channel of your Paper, I beg leave to offer one or two short remarks on a production which appeared in your last, under the signature of Agrippa.(10)

Without saying anything concerning the justness of the learned Agrippa's observations on past events, I shall confine myself chiefly to a small part of his uncommonly ingenious essay.

Agrippa says, "the attempt has been made to deprive us," &c., "by exalting characters on the one side, and vilifying them on the other." And goes on, "I wish to say nothing of the merits or demerits of individuals, such arguments always do hurt." Immediately after this he insinuates that the members of the late federal convention have, "from their cradles, been incapable of comprehending any other principles of government than those of absolute power, and who have, in this instance (meaning the form of government proposed by them) attempted to deprive the people of their const.i.tutional liberty by a pitiful trick." Thus the ignorant loggerhead blunders directly into the very same thing which he himself, just before, takes upon him to censure. Perhaps Agrippa thinks that excusable in anti-federalists, which in a federalist he beholds as criminal; justly thinking, without doubt, that as absurdity, knavery and falsehood, is the general characteristick of anti-federalists, he might indulge himself in either of them, without meriting censure.

I apprehend, that Agrippa has a new budget of political ideas, centered in his pericranium, which he will, in his own due time, lay before the publick; for he insinuates, that the members of the late federal convention are incapable of comprehending any other principles of government than those of absolute power. Was it the dictates of absolute power, that inspired the immortal Was.h.i.+ngton to lead forth a band of freemen to oppose the inroads of despotism, and establish the independence of his country? Was it the dictates of arbitrary power, that induced the celebrated Franklin to cross the wide Atlantick to procure succours for his injured countrymen and citizens?

Blush and tremble, Agrippa! thou ungrateful monster!-Charon's boat now waits on the borders of the Styx, to convey you to those mansions where guilt of conscience will prey upon your intellects, at least for a season!

"Is there not some chosen curse, Some hidden thunder in the stores of heaven, Red with uncommon wrath, to blast the wretch, Who dares pollute such names So sacred, and so much belov'd?"

Methinks I hear each freeman cry, Most certainly there is.

Ca.s.sIUS.

Ca.s.sius, VII.

The Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette, (Number 387)

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1787.

For the Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette.

I believe it may be a.s.serted for fact, that since the foundations of the universe were laid, there has no kind of government been formed, without opposition being made to it, from one quarter or another.

There always has been, and ever will be, in every country, men who have no other aim in view than to be in direct opposition to every thing which takes place, or which is proposed to be adopted.-This cla.s.s of beings always wish to make themselves important, and to incur notice; and, conscious of their inability to obtain that notice which is bestowed on the patriot and the just man, they put up (because they cannot help it) with being noticed only for their absurdity and folly. When you hear this cla.s.s of Would Be's engaged in condemning any form of government, or any thing else, ask them this simple question-What do you think would be better than that which you condemn?-O! that is quite another matter, would most probably be the answer; we are not adequate to the task of fabricating a government, we leave that to wiser heads-but, they will continue, it is easy for any one to discover the imperfections in this form of government we are condemning. Strange absurdity!-inadequate to the task of constructing, yet capable of criticizing upon, and pointing out the defects of, anything which is constructed. Well may we say, in the words of another-

"Some are bewilder'd in the maze of schools, And some made criticks Nature meant but fools: In search of wit these lose their common sense, And then turn critics in their own defence."

There is not, in the extensive circle of human nature, objects more completely despicable than those who take upon them to censure and condemn a work, without being able to subst.i.tute any thing preferable in lieu of it.

In those objects, last mentioned, this country considerably abounds, as the newspaporial pages fully evince. They have been busily employed of late, in finding fault with the plan of government proposed by the federal convention; they have almost exhausted their folly, knavery, absurdity, and ridiculous, inconclusive, non-applicable arguments on the subject; and, in my opinion, was this question asked them, What do you mean by all your learned farrago about this matter? they could not give any other reasonable answer, than that their intent was, to exhibit specimens of their scribbling talents.-But I will dismiss this subject for the present, in order to make a few remarks on the conduct of some others, since the proposed form of government made its appearance.

In some a.s.semblies, where the necessity of calling a state convention to consider of the merits of the new const.i.tution has been debated, some gentlemen, who were opposed to the plan of federal government, while they reprobated it, at the same time declared that none were more truly federal than themselves.-What a pity it is, for these patriots in theory, that actions speak louder than words-and that the people are so incredulous as not to believe a thing which they know to be directly the reverse of truth.-

It ever prejudices people against arguments, even if they should happen to be just, if they are prefaced by a glaring falsehood-this, sharpers do not always consider, when they are attempting to carry their favourite points.-It is something to be wondered at, that a certain theoretical patriot,(11) instead of saying he would sooner have lost his hand than subscribed his name to the plan of federal government, had not have declared, that he would sooner have lost his head, and the amazing fund of federal wisdom it contains, before he would have been guilty of so horrid an act.

Look around you, inhabitants of America! and see of what characters the anti-federal junto are composed.-Are any of them men of that cla.s.s, who, in the late war, made bare their arms and girded on the helmet in your defence?-few, very few indeed, of the antifederalists, are men of this character. But who are they that are supporters of that grand republican fabrick, the Federal Const.i.tution?-Are they not the men who were among the first to a.s.sert the rights of freemen, and put a check to the invasions of tyranny? Are they not, many of them, men who have fought and bled under the banners of liberty?-Most certainly this is the case.-Will you then, countrymen and fellow-citizens, give heed to these infamous, anti-federal slanderers, who, in censuring the proposed plan of federal government, have dared, basely dared to treat even the characters of a Was.h.i.+ngton and a Franklin with reproach?-Surely you will not. Your good sense and discernment will lead you to treat with abhorrence and contempt every artifice which is put in practice to sap the confidence you have in men who are the boast of their country, and an honour to human nature. You certainly cannot harbour an idea so derogatory to reason and the nature of things, as that men, who, for eight years, have fought and struggled, to obtain and secure to you freedom and independence, should now be engaged in a design to subvert your liberties and reduce you to a state of servitude. Reason revolts at the thought, ... and none but the infamous incendiary, or the unprincipled monster, would insinuate a thing so vile.

Ca.s.sIUS.

Ca.s.sius, VIII.

The Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette, (Number 391)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1787.

For the Ma.s.sachusetts Gazette.

TO THE INHABITANTS OF THIS STATE: