Federalist no. 51 written by James Madison
“It is of great importance in a republic not only to guard the society against the
oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of the society against the injustice of the
other part. Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizens. If a
majority be united by a common interest, the rights of the minority will be
insecure…Whilst all authority in it will be derived from and dependent on the society, the
society itself will be broken into so many parts, interests, and classes of citizens, that
the rights of individuals, or of the minority, will be in little danger from interested
combinations of the majority. In a free government the security for civil rights must be
the same as that for religious rights.”
Federalist Paper no. 10 written by James Madison
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men,
controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be
administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the
government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A
dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but
experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”
Federalist Paper no. 67 written by Alexander Hamilton
“Adversaries have tried to use Americans' hatred for the British monarchy against the
intended Presidency of the United States, portraying the office as its direct descendant.
To make the connection, they fictitiously magnify executive powers beyond royal
prerogatives… They show him with the crown sparkling on his brow and the imperial
purple flowing in his train. They seat him on a throne surrounded with minions and
mistresses, giving audience to envoys of foreign potentates with supercilious pomp.
They teach us to tremble at the terrible scowls of murdering henchmen, and to blush at
the unveiled mysteries of a future harem. We must defeat such attempts to transform
the office.”
Federalist Paper no. 84 written by Alexander Hamilton
“Bills of rights originated as stipulations between kings and subjects to reserve rights not
surrendered to the crown…It is obvious, then, that they do not apply to constitutions
based on the power of the people and executed by their direct representatives and
servants. Here, strictly speaking, the people surrender nothing and, as they retain
everything, they have no need of particular reservations… Furthermore, I contend that
bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent for which they are contended, are not only
unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would be dangerous… Why, for instance,
should we say that freedom of the press will not be restricted when no power is given to
impose restrictions.”
Antifederalist Speech given by John DeWitt
“[Federalists believe] Since we want a Bill of Rights to accompany this proposed
[Constitution], is a solid objection to it, provided there is nothing exceptionable in the
[Constitution] itself, I do not agree. — If, however, there is at any time, [important to
have one], it would [would be here.]… [Why] a Constitution for the United States does
not require a Bill of Rights, when it is considered, but a Constitution for an individual
State would, I cannot understand.”
Antifederalist letter by Centinel (Samuel Bryan)
“This government is to possess absolute and uncontroulable power, legislative,
executive and judicial, with respect to every object to which it extends,[in the
Constitution] it is declared ‘that the Congress shall have power to make all laws which
shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all
other powers vested by this constitution, in the government of the United States; or in
any department or office thereof.’
Objections to This Constitution of Government- written by George Mason
“There is no Declaration of Rights, and the laws of the general government being
paramount to the laws and constitution of the several States, the Declarations of Rights
in the separate States are no security. Nor are the people secured even in the
enjoyment of the benefit of the common law… This government will set out a moderate
aristocracy (elite class): it is at present impossible to foresee whether it will, in its
operation, produce a monarchy, or a corrupt, tyrannical aristocracy; it will most probably
vibrate some years between the two, and then terminate in the one or the other.”