Posted by
Nikko on Friday, December 15, 2006 12:57:59 PM
From the beginning the purpose of the Federalist was threefold. (1) To
expound and explain the blessings and the beauties of the Union as a
federal system. (2) To present an indictment of the Articles of
Confederation for their failure to provide any semblance of good
government. (3) To analyze and defend the new Constitution as an
instrument of federalism and constitutionalism. Publius the political
theorist had many faces. One face in the person of Madison, was that of
of the federalist and exponent of limited governmant. Another face, in
the person of Alexander Hamilton, was that of the nationalist and
admirer of energetic government. Underneath the different and varying
facades the soul of Publius was unified and searching for free
government at both levels in a federal system that must exercise direct
authority over individuals over a wide expanse of territory and in the
same instance, provide for the enjoyment of individual freedom.
Publius, the political realist, had only one face and that face was
bound to the exposition of certain enduring truths that would provide
an understanding of both the dangers and the delights of free
government.