Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Interesting Links having to do with this discussion:
Short Article
on the Constitution from Grolier's on the Web
Article
on the Constitution from the National Archives and Records
Administration
Hypertext version of The
Federalist No. 10
The Federalists and Anti-Federalists of New York gathered in convention to
discuss the points that each of them would use in a public debate to be
held in from of the City Hall. Here are the points each group planned to
present:
Federalists:
Wendy Simpson, Rachel Constantini, Abraham DeLeon, Larry Kohut, Eddie
Folks, Vicki Jost
- The people cannot govern themselves, nor protect their
collective rights, without a strong central government.
- A representative few must guard against the confusions of the
multitude.
- Our nation must have a method by which to discharge its public debts.
- Only a strong central government can ensure that states participate in
the general good
- Representation is distributed more equally in a federal government
than in a confederation.
- This constitution protects the public good without need for a Bill of
Rights, as an independent judiciary will secure the rights of all.
- This constitution protects the institution of slavery without
trespassing on the rights of those who do not own slaves.
- A single executive may govern more efficiently than multiple
executives.
- The Presidential veto allows a check on the activities of the
legislature, so that no one group of citizens may trample on the rights of
another.
- The Electoral College protects the people from those who would vote in
ignorance, nor yet is the President beholden to Congress for his election.
- A federal government can provide for the common defense, raise revenue
in time of war, and treat with other nations more effectively than might a
confederation
Anti-Federalists:
Karen Keehr, Spencer Owens, Darren Court, Justin Miller, Peter Phillips,
Blaine Elwood, Rhonda Jackson
- States have rights which the central government threatens to
trample.
- The Constitution is a tyrannical document without a Bill of Rights.
- The executive branch is a thinly-veiled monarchy.
- The Constitution grants too much and too tyrannical a power of
taxation to the Federal government.
- Congress should not have the power to meddle in the commerce of the
states, neither in our trading nor our shipping.
- Only the several states can judge the interests and requirements of
their component regions.
- Any system of representation which assigns a value to the Negro is
unfair; they are not people, but property.
- The Federal legislature is designed as an aristocratical institution,
determined to steal the political prerogative of the people.
- We would ask for a Bill of Rights, to include: equal opportunities for
free public education; the freedom of speech and of the press; freedom to
resist the quartering of troops within our homes; the right to a trial by
a jury of one's peers; freedom against warrants for seach and seizure; and
freedom of each man to follow his own conscience in religious matters.