COMMENTARIES, 25 OCTOBER 1787

but the argument is fallacious, and, whoever has attended to the history
of mankind, and the principles which bind them together as parents,
citizens, or men, will readily perceive it. These principles are, in their
exercise, like a pebble cast on the calm surface of a river, the circles
begin in the center, and are small, active, and forcible, but as they
depart from that point, they lose their force, and vanish into calmness.
(The strongest principle of union resides within our domestic walls.
The ties of the parent exceed that of any other; as we depart from
home, the next general principle of union is amongst citizens of the
same state, where acquaintance, habits, and fortunes, nourish affection,
and attachment; enlarge the circle still further, &, as citizens of different
states, though we acknowledge the same national denomination, we lose
the ties of acquaintance, habits, and fortunes, and thus, by degrees, we
lessen in our attachments, till, at length, we no more than acknowledge
a sameness of species.)9 Is it therefore, from certainty like this, reasonable
to believe, that inhabitants of Georgia, or New-Hampshire, will have the
same obligations towards you as your own, and preside over your lives,
liberties, and property, with the same care and attachment? Intuitive
reason, answers in the negative.
In the course of my examination of the principles of consolidation
of the states into one general government, many other reasons against
it have occurred, but I flatter myself, from those herein offered to your
consideration, I have convinced you that it is both presumptious and
impracticable consistent with your safety. To detain you with further
remarks, would be useless-I shall however, continue in my following
numbers, to anilise this new government, pursuant to my promise.
1. See "Cato" II, New York Journal, 11 October (above).
2. Locke, Two Treatises, Book II, chapter IX, section 123, p. 368. Locke stated "And 'tis
not without reason, that he [Man] seeks out, and is willing to joyn in Society with others
who are already united, or have a mind to unite for the mutual Preservation of their Lives,
Liberties and Estates, which I call by the general Name, Property."
3. Mark 3:25. "And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand."
4. Spirit of Laws, I, Book VIII, chapter XVI, 177-78.
5. Two Treatises, Book II, chapter XV, section 172, p. 400. Locke stated that "Despotical
Power is an Absolute, Arbitrary Power one Man has over another, to take away his Life,
whenever he pleases. This is a Power, which neither Nature gives, for it has made no such
distinction between one Man and another; nor Compact can convey, for Man not having
such an Arbitrary Power over his own Life, cannot give another Man such a Power over it."
6. Spirit of Laws, I, Book XI, chapter VI, 222. Montesquieu states that "The political
liberty of the subject is a tranquillity of mind arising from the opinion each person has
of his safety. In order to have this liberty, it is requisite the government be so constituted
as one man need not be afraid of another."
7. The reference is to Shays's Rebellion, 1786-87. See RCS:Mass., xxxviii-xxxix; and
CC:18.

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