The Federalist Papers - Alexander Hamilton [18]
The text of this edition of The Federalist is taken directly from the first edition of the collected essays, published in New York City in 1788 by J. and A. McLean. In Rossiter’s words, "spelling and punctuation have been modernized, and a few glaring mistakes—solecisms, Homeric nods, and printer’s lapses—have been corrected." The main heads in the table of contents are taken from the McLean edition, while the subheads are adapted (with revisions) from Henry Cabot Lodge’s edition of 1896. All footnotes to the text are the work of the authors of The Federalist.
Text in boldface indicates a note following the text; the notes are designed to help the modern reader make sense of many references and usages, now somewhat obscure, that would have been familiar to Publius’s contemporaries. Drawn from standard historical sources and reference works, the notes were researched and written with the generous assistance of Yishaiya Abosch. I should like to thank also the entire team of student research assistants at the Henry Salvatori Center at Claremont McKenna College.
—C.R.K.
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS
Contents of The Federalist
THE FEDERALIST
NO. 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 27
The importance of the subject—The uncertain role of motives in politics—Publius will offer public arguments—General plan of the series: to show the utility of the Union to political prosperity, etc.
NO. 2: CONCERNING DANGERS FROM FOREIGN FORCE AND INFLUENCE 31
The necessity of government—One connected country meant for one united people—The convention and the Continental Congress compared—The blessings of Union versus the dangers of separate confederacies.
NO. 3: THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED 36
The Union a protection against such dangers, by removing the usual causes of just war, and by preventing violations of compacts and treaties, on account of greater efficiency and better character than are possessed by the State governments—The Union also better able to settle international differences.
NO. 4: THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED 40
Unjust causes of war avoided—Greater ability to compel respect of other nations and prevent their attacking us from jealousy of our successful trade.
NO. 5: THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED 44
Union secures us from foreign influence in the several States which would exist if they were not united, and prevents their alliance with foreign and rival nations.
NO. 6: CONCERNING DANGERS FROM DISSENSIONS BETWEEN THE STATES 48
Reasons for these dissensions if States remain disunited, and especially the dangers from personal ambitions in small States—Historical examples—The Shays rebellion—Commercial republics not less prone to war—Arguments of those who favor separate States answered—Historical examples—Appeal to the people from these examples.
NO. 7: THE SAME SUBJECT CONTINUED 54
Causes for dissensions among States if disunited enumerated—Territorial disputes—The competitions of commerce—The public debt—Laws violating contracts—Incompatible alliances.
NO. 8: THE CONSEQUENCES OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN THE STATES 60
First, destruction of life and property; then, standing armies, extensions of executive power, the rise of the military over the civil power—Objections to the Union on this score answered—Army not dangerous to liberty, if there is a Union—Examples of Greece and of Great Britain.
NO. 9: THE UNION AS A SAFEGUARD AGAINST DOMESTIC FACTION AND INSURRECTION 66
Danger of these troubles in republics, and the argument thus afforded to the advocates of despotisms—The advantage of a Confederacy—Historical examples—Improvements in political science—Montesquieu’s views—Distinction between confederation and consolidation—Nature of a confederacy—The proposed Constitution a confederate-republican form—The Lycian confederacy.
NO. 10: THE SAME