undertaken from
patriotic motives, and by scholars and gentlemen. Enough that we have
here the reasonings of enlightened citizens, the views of statesmen, the
arguments whereby the claims of the Constitution were vindicated.
Whoever is familiar with the history of the period, finds in this
remarkable work a memorable illustration of that rectitude and wisdom
which presided over the early counsels of the nation, and an evidence of
the rare union of sagacity and comprehensiveness, of liberal aspiration
and prudential foresight, of conscientiousness and intelligence, which
has won for the founders of the republic the admiration of the world. In
these pages, how much knowledge of the past is combined with insight as
to the future, what common sense is blent with learning, what
perspicacity with breadth of view! Each department of the proposed
government is described and analyzed; the political history of Greece,
Rome, the Italian republics, France, and Great Britain examined for
precedents and illustrations; popular objections answered; popular
errors rectified; this provision explained, that clause justified; the
judicial, legislative, and executive functions defined; national revenue
discussed in all its relations; the advantages of our civil list, of a
republic over a democracy in controlling the effects of faction, are
clearly indicated; as are those attending the reservation of criminal
and civil justice to the respective States: on the one hand the defects
of the old Confederacy are stated with emphasis and truth, and on the
other, the transcendent benefits of Federal union are elaborately
argued, and economy, stability, and vigor proved to be its legitimate
fruits. Of the evils of the old system, it is said: 'Let the point of
extreme depression to which our national dignity and credit have sunk,
let the inconvenience felt everywhere from a lax and ill-administered
government, let the revolt of a part of North Carolina, the memory of
insurrection in Pennsylvania, and actual insurrection in Massachusetts,
declare it.' An unique distinction of this political treatise is that
while Pericles, Cato, Hume, Montesquieu, Junius, and other classical and
modern authorities are cited with scholarly tact, the most practical
arguments drawn from the facts of the hour and the needs of the people,
are conveyed in language the most lucid and impressive. To give a
complete analysis of the 'Federalist' would require a volume; the glance