James Madison Letter to General Washington

The Constitution Society ^ | April 16th 1787 | James Madison

[Jacquerie]

Madison also touched on regional differences and rivalries, of southern delegates uncomfortable in NYC. Other, and more important topics included Vermont, disposition of western lands, the Treaty of Peace, trouble with Spain over the Mississippi River, paper money and Shays’ Rebellion.

George Washington was as critical to leading the nation from the hapless Articles of Confederation to the Constitution as he was in leading our Revolutionary Armies to victory over Great Britain. In this letter, James Madison informed General Washington of what to expect in Philadelphia.

[Jacquerie]

For your pinglist, if you please.

[Tublecane]

Madison I consider a genius and his cause noble, but I have to admit that the anti-federalists were right. Whatever the Constitution is, outline for good government or not, it is not what rules us today. It was not able to prevent an unconstitutional government from taking over, and therefore failed.

[Jacquerie]

The fundamental practical difference between Federalists and Antis was their prediction of the arrival of tyranny.

To Federalists, we faced impending anarchy, guaranteed to be followed by dissolution or tyranny under the Articles of Confederation. From these near term threats, the Constitution saved us.

To Antis, the Constitution guaranteed near term tyranny.

I think history proved the Federalists correct.

As for our present post-constitutional America, Ben Franklin predicted our Constitution would work well enough for a period of years, but the people would eventually become so corrupted that we would be suited only for despotic government.

A nation can only send so many Sheila Jackson-Lees and Dick Durbins to Congress before it has a detrimental effect. We have only ourselves as a people to blame for the condition of our liberties.

[Publius]

Good article.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

Ping me.

[YHAOS]

"As for our present post-constitutional America, Ben Franklin predicted our Constitution would work well enough for a period of years,"

"A Republic . . . if you can keep it."

A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy -- A republic replied the Doctor if you can keep it.*
[Note *: * The lady here alluded to was Mrs. Powel of Philada.]
. . . . . Farrand’s Records, Vol III, pg 85

[alfa6]

Thanks for the ping, Publius

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Jacquerie]

If time allows, check out Madison’s ideas for a new government a little closer. Fortunately, some did not make the final cut.

[PGalt]

Thanks for the ping; post; thread. Fascinating! History/education BUMP!

[Straight Vermonter]

A lot of folks don’t realize that Vermont was an independent country from 1777 to 1791. Kind of neat to see it mentioned in correspondence like this.

[wastedyears]

I’m guessing though they didn’t dream of communicating from one end of a state to the other in seconds, let alone transporting cargo across a country in just a few days, to seeing men and women living and working in space. I don’t mean to denigrate them, but there were probably many things beyond their thoughts of what the future would hold for mankind in general, not referring to anything geopolitical.

They probably couldn’t imagine self-righteous dictators slaughtering tens of millions of their own countrymen just because they thought differently. The kings of their time at least had required someone break a law, such as stealing or adultery before a sentence was handing down. But with what the Communists/Socialists did, it didn’t matter. They just destroyed everything they didn’t like.

As such, I imagine they hoped those elected would police themselves and others, and didn’t write enough shackles on the government into the Constitution, such as term limits right away for either the President or members of Congress. They didn’t write anything saying they may not regulate commerce, whether contained in a state or across state borders. I also feel they didn’t put enough emphasis into the right to bear arms (think about it: how much have the Liberals argued over the first clause, “A well regulated militia - etc?”). I feel the 2nd should’ve only read “The Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed.”

I also feel they should’ve made a long, long list specifically stating what the national government could and could not do.

Again, I don’t want anybody to take what I said as me flaming the Founding Fathers. I just feel like more could have been done to prevent the leviathan government we have today.

[metesky]

I also feel they should’ve made a long, long list specifically stating what the national government could and could not do.

That would be Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, FRiend.

[Jacquerie]

>I also feel they should’ve made a long, long list specifically stating what the national government could and could not do.<

That would conflate somewhat a Constitution with a code of law. Most of the delegates to the Philly convention had extensive experience with Constitution making in their home states after independence. Many were also current or former delegates to Congress. We'll never again witness such an incredible assemblage.

From experience under the Articles of Confederation, it was the new government that had everything to fear from the states. Article 1 Section 10 is almost a list of state shenanigans from 1781 to 1787.

[StonyBurk]

T’anks—and again many T’anks. I have read Washington’s letter
to Madison (referenced here dated March 31) both in George Washingotn:Writings ,Library of America,John Rhodehamel Ed.
and in the Hillsdale College work The US Constitution a Reader
but had not read Madison’s reply until you sent this heads up.
So T’anks. And I do so agree with comments about Washington.
I wonder if God will raise up another like him-Or if He will let judgement take its course?

[Pharmboy]

My pleasure, Jacquerie; thanks for the post. Excellent insight into Madison's thoughts as he was preparing.

And he was another Virginian educated at Princeton.

The RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list...

[Jacquerie]

Yes, GW does not get the credit he deserves.

[Jacquerie]

John Witherspoon was certainly a compelling voice of the Revolutionary era. Do you happen to know the other Founders/Framers he influenced?

[SunkenCiv]

GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach	join list or digest view topics view or post blog bookmark post a topic subscribe
Thanks Pharmboy. Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list.

[freedumb2003]

>>It was not able to prevent an unconstitutional government from taking over, and therefore failed.<<

And yet we fight for it.

The USC provides the framework for the most liberty man can probably hope for.

Today we fight with words and movements. There may come a time soon when we will need more.

So long as one FReeper and/or Tea Partier draws breath, the USC is not “failed.”