Category — Federalist

Federalist 39 is pretty interesting. Madison doesn't mince his words, explaining where the proposed Constitution consolidates power - even over individuals - and where it is limited and must share authority with the states. What follows in our attempt to put it in more modern prose - and understand it ourselves.   Read the rest of this entry »

In this essay, Madison lays waste the arguments of the anti-Federalists. He uses powerful analogies to point out the inconsistent and incongruent logic used by those opposed to ratification. He explains that it might be one thing if the opponents of the proposed plan had a plan of their own and were in accord with one another. But they were not in agreement amongst themselves and some even denied the necessity of addressing the problems that nearly everyone saw as obvious.   Read the rest of this entry »

In Federalist No 37, Madison attempts to explain some of the difficulties faced by the convention.   Read the rest of this entry »

This is the last of seven essays on the issue of taxation.  Hamilton answers the objections of those opposed to the Constitution on the grounds that there will be double taxation, that the States and the federal government will be …

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In Federalist No 35, the sixth of seven essays of the topic of taxation, Hamilton argues that the federal government should not be limited to taxes on imports. He also goes off an a bit of a tangent about who should be elected to the House of Representatives (the Constitution as proposed and first implemented, specified that the State legislatures were to appoint senators.)   Read the rest of this entry »

This is the fifth of seven federalist essays by Hamilton on the issue of taxation. His arguments in this article pertain to how the power of taxation should be apportioned between the States and the federal government, why the convention chose to make this a shared power, and why the needs of the federal government dictate that it should, by rights, receive the lion's share of revenue sources.   Read the rest of this entry »

Hamilton defends two of the most talked about clauses in the Constitution. His arguments revolve around logic and jurisdiction. He isn't sparing with his aspersions as he explains the intent of the framers.   Read the rest of this entry »

In this federalist Hamilton continues to bolster his argument that vesting taxation power in the federal government is not just essential (as in previous essays), but poses no danger to the states. He takes the reader through some fairly complex arguments sprinkling in legal terms like repugnancy (inconsistency) and concepts like a negative pregnant. Whew!   Read the rest of this entry »

This essay is the second in a series on the controversial issue of taxation. Hamilton continues his arguments for unlimited federal power to tax and tries to address the objections of those who fear usurpation and displacement of the State governments.   Read the rest of this entry »

Here is a look at one aspect of the debate between the Federalists and anti-Federalists - the power of taxation.   Read the rest of this entry »