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The Soon Coming Judgment Of God Upon America and How To Escape It 561
claim more than were granted. For why declare that things should not be done
which there is no power to do? Why, for instance, should it be said that the liberty
of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions
may be imposed?... [I]t would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible
pretext for claiming that power... This may serve as a specimen... [of] the doctrine
of constructive powers, by the indulgence of an injudicious zeal for a bill of
rights.
1945
Hamilton's argument was ridiculous. It is no different then saying the Ten
Commandments are not necessary because man has no authority to sin! Hamilton had ambitions
and thirst for power and would later try to undermine the Presidency of John Adams. In regards
to the ambitions of the remaining Federalists, Storing writes: “Ambitious Federalists, captivated
by visions of 'stately places' and 'dazzling ideas of glory, wealth, and power,' wanted us 'to be
like other nations.' That is just what we should not be. Americans 'ought to furnish the world
with an example of a great people, who in their civil institutions hold chiefly in view, the
attainment of virtue, and happiness among ourselves.'”
1946
The Ant-Federalist were quite different. They “were committed to both union and the
states; to both the great American republic and a small, self-governing community; to both
commerce and civic virtue; to both private gain and public good.”
1947
They didn't feel that the
proposed government under the Constitution would achieve these ideals. “The main fear
expressed by the Anti-Federalists was whether the national government would become a
monster, overwhelming and eventually extinguishing the direct responsibility of the States for
the lives and welfare of their citizens. They were concerned that a national government powerful
enough to do this would inevitably and by decrees destroy the liberties of all citizens. At the
same time, the supporters of the Constitution sought to assuage these fears by saying why this
would never happen. As James Madison wrote in Federalist, No. 45”:
The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal
government are few and defined. Those which are to remain in the State
governments are numerous and indefinite. The former will be exercised
principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce;
with which last the power of taxation will, for the most part, be connected. The
powers reserved to the several States will extend to all the objects which, in the
ordinary course of affairs, concern the lives, liberties, and properties of the
people, and the internal order, improvement, and prosperity of the State.
1948
While the Federalists talked about State power and individual liberty, they were
unwilling to guarantee these in the form of a Bill of Rights. Of highest importance in the minds
of the Anti-Federalists was the preservation of religious liberty. “Regarding liberty of
conscience, the Anti-federalists' position was complex. Typically they favored both
governmental encouragement of religion and liberty of individual conscience.”
1949
The Anti-Federalist were outnumbered and outmaneuvered. At best, the Anti-Federalists
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