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Letter to Editor
February 21, 1795
Gazette Of The United States And Daily Evening Advertiser
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
What is this article about?
In a letter to Mr. Woods of the Newark Gazette, Cato corrects his prior misinterpretation of Mr. Dayton's congressional remarks on Popular Societies, clarifying that government branches, as constitutional sentinels, should alert against threats to liberties. Dated Newark, December 22, 1794.
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Full Text
From the Newark Gazette
MR. WOODS,
IN the printed debates of Congress on the subject of the Popular Societies, Mr. Dayton was made to say in opposition to those societies, that "The different branches of the government were the Constitutional Centinels, over the liberties of the people." It struck me as a fair and natural inference that he meant to inculcate an opinion that all other watchmen were criminal, or at least unnecessary, and this construction I gave it in a publication under my signature contained in your paper of the 10th inst. But upon a view of a more enlarged statement of the debates, I find that, that was not his meaning but, that as he thought those Societies, were dangerous to the liberties of the people, it was the duty of the different branches of the government "who were the constitutional centinels over the liberties of the people" to sound the alarm; candor induces me to correct a construction (which I yet think myself justified in making from the printed debates) both in justice to that Gentleman and the public.
CATO.
Newark, December 22d 1794.
MR. WOODS,
IN the printed debates of Congress on the subject of the Popular Societies, Mr. Dayton was made to say in opposition to those societies, that "The different branches of the government were the Constitutional Centinels, over the liberties of the people." It struck me as a fair and natural inference that he meant to inculcate an opinion that all other watchmen were criminal, or at least unnecessary, and this construction I gave it in a publication under my signature contained in your paper of the 10th inst. But upon a view of a more enlarged statement of the debates, I find that, that was not his meaning but, that as he thought those Societies, were dangerous to the liberties of the people, it was the duty of the different branches of the government "who were the constitutional centinels over the liberties of the people" to sound the alarm; candor induces me to correct a construction (which I yet think myself justified in making from the printed debates) both in justice to that Gentleman and the public.
CATO.
Newark, December 22d 1794.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Constitutional Rights
What keywords are associated?
Popular Societies
Congressional Debates
Constitutional Sentinels
Liberties
Correction
Mr Dayton
What entities or persons were involved?
Cato
Mr. Woods
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Cato
Recipient
Mr. Woods
Main Argument
corrects a prior misinterpretation of mr. dayton's statement in congress, clarifying that government branches as constitutional sentinels should sound alarms against dangerous popular societies.
Notable Details
References Printed Debates Of Congress
Prior Publication In Paper Of The 10th Inst.
Emphasis On Candor And Justice To Mr. Dayton