COMMENTARIES, 29 SEPTEMBER 1787

eye, the profound intelligence and policy it discloses. And, when once
your minds are persuaded of its propriety, determine with unanimity,
and with decided resolution to adopt, support, and perpetuate it.
Think not that such an eventful revolution, so great and so promis-
ing, should meet with no opposition. Nothing great or good, of the
kind, ever commenced or ever existed without it. Opposition will arise
from a variety of sources. A few will be actuated by a vain spirit of
contention, or affectation of singularity. Some will prattle of chimerical
dangers, to shew their superior discernment, or to obtrude themselves
into notice. Even low wit and buffoonery shall raise their silly weapons.
Perhaps you will be told, among Anti-Federalists, that, when the new
Government is established, "money will grow upon the trees"-that
"Washington has been duped"-that "Franklin has grown old"2-that
"Pinckney and Hamilton are boys."3-Thus far opposition merits your
contempt. But the fears of the jealous, of the undiscerning, and of the
ignorant, among each of which classes there may be men of integrity
and principle; the obstinacy of prepossession and party spirit; the secret
intrigues of the ambitious; and clamours of avarice and self interest;
these will be exerted to undermine your prospects of national felicity,
and of these you should be aware. To hear from them any thing like
solid argument, or calm discussion, is scarcely to be expected. From
popular rumor, I have not as yet been able to collect an attempt of this
kind, that merits your slightest regard. The ground of controversy is
now changed. Every objection, from the purse and the sword being
entrusted to one body of men, is now removed, by the different orga-
nization of the Federal Head: objections which had weight with many
of your real friends, and have had their full force granted in the con-
struction of the present system. These objections were formerly an-
swered by an appeal to necessity. For, better was it that the efficient
powers of Government should be lodged any where, than no where:
better in one delegated Assembly, mutable in its members, and remov-
able at your pleasure, than in no Assembly at all. For, certainly, rigid
order, in society, is preferable to licentious disorder; and an absolute
Monarchy, to an absolute Anarchy. (The people of Virginia, some time
since, in instructions to their Representatives, speaking of Congress,
declare, "that the melioration of a Constitution, founded upon such
false and incompatible principles, seems in every view almost impossi-
ble; but expedients proposed, which require the unanimous concur-
rence of thirteen separate Legislatures, differing in interests, distinct
in habits, and opposite in prejudices, have so repeatedly failed, that
they no longer furnish a ray of hope:-We pray, therefore, for the day,
when we shall see a national Convention sit, composed of the best and

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