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Editorial
August 14, 1787
The New York Packet
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
Editorial from New-York, August 14, reports the Federal Convention's unanimous agreement on a new continental government scheme for ratification by state legislatures. It defends the proposal against objections fearing endangerment of liberties, deeming such fears unmanly, unreasonable, and influenced by suspicious or weak minds, using a childish analogy to illustrate.
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New-York, August 14.
It is said, the Federal Convention have unanimously agreed on a scheme of Continental Government, adapted to the circumstances, habits and necessities of the people, and which will speedily be presented to the several Legislatures, for their acceptance and ratification. The principal difficulty will now be, to have it freely adopted by the people: And on this account we should have nothing to apprehend, were it not, that some people, for some reason or another, have started objections to giving any power out of their hands, as they term it, lest the liberties of the people be endangered. It hath unhappily been the case, when measures have been proposed, in the assemblies of the States, evidently calculated for the benefit of individual and confederate States, for some to mount the political hobby-horse, and set up the cry of Liberty! On these occasions, we frequently hear of our forefathers coming to this howling wilderness for liberty-and if we grant money or power to Congress, our liberties will be in danger-that Congress are profuse, &c.— It is undoubtedly the duty of a free people to be tenacious of their liberties, and guard against encroachment-But does it follow, that we should be suspicious of every public measure or character ? The suggestions, that it would be dangerous to grant money or power to Congress-or to establish a national government adequate to the national purposes —are unmanly and unreasonable; yet they have their effect on minds naturally suspicious and timid, and those unenlarged; whereby many men, of illiberal sentiments, base and selfish views, and also of weak intellects, draw a train after them like a comet. In the insinuations which are frequently made use of, there is not only a great share of illiberality, but also a great degree of puerility. Let me have your knife, says Tommy to Billy: No, says Billy-you will cut your fingers if I do, and I can make a whistle as well again as you can. Whether there is more reason in one case than in the other, is submitted.
It is said, the Federal Convention have unanimously agreed on a scheme of Continental Government, adapted to the circumstances, habits and necessities of the people, and which will speedily be presented to the several Legislatures, for their acceptance and ratification. The principal difficulty will now be, to have it freely adopted by the people: And on this account we should have nothing to apprehend, were it not, that some people, for some reason or another, have started objections to giving any power out of their hands, as they term it, lest the liberties of the people be endangered. It hath unhappily been the case, when measures have been proposed, in the assemblies of the States, evidently calculated for the benefit of individual and confederate States, for some to mount the political hobby-horse, and set up the cry of Liberty! On these occasions, we frequently hear of our forefathers coming to this howling wilderness for liberty-and if we grant money or power to Congress, our liberties will be in danger-that Congress are profuse, &c.— It is undoubtedly the duty of a free people to be tenacious of their liberties, and guard against encroachment-But does it follow, that we should be suspicious of every public measure or character ? The suggestions, that it would be dangerous to grant money or power to Congress-or to establish a national government adequate to the national purposes —are unmanly and unreasonable; yet they have their effect on minds naturally suspicious and timid, and those unenlarged; whereby many men, of illiberal sentiments, base and selfish views, and also of weak intellects, draw a train after them like a comet. In the insinuations which are frequently made use of, there is not only a great share of illiberality, but also a great degree of puerility. Let me have your knife, says Tommy to Billy: No, says Billy-you will cut your fingers if I do, and I can make a whistle as well again as you can. Whether there is more reason in one case than in the other, is submitted.
What sub-type of article is it?
Constitutional
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Federal Convention
Continental Government
Ratification
Liberty Objections
Congress Power
National Government
Political Suspicions
What entities or persons were involved?
Federal Convention
Congress
State Legislatures
The People
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Defense Against Objections To Proposed Federal Government
Stance / Tone
Supportive Of Ratification, Critical Of Liberty Fearing Opponents
Key Figures
Federal Convention
Congress
State Legislatures
The People
Key Arguments
Federal Convention Unanimously Agreed On Adapted Continental Government Scheme For Ratification.
Objections To Granting Power To Congress Endanger Liberties Are Unmanly And Unreasonable.
Free People Must Guard Liberties But Not Suspect Every Public Measure.
Opponents Include Suspicious, Timid, Illiberal, And Weak Minded Individuals Who Influence Others.
Insinuations Against National Government Show Illiberality And Puerility, Akin To Childish Refusal To Share A Knife.