. . . The recital, or premises on which the new form of government is erected, declares a consolidation or union of all the thirteen parts, or states, into one great whole, under the form of the
United States, for all the various and important purposes therein set forth. But whoever seriously considers the immense extent of territory comprehended within the limits of the United States, together with the variety of its climates, productions, and commerce, the difference of extent, and number of inhabitants in all; the dissimilitude of interest, morals, and politics, in almost every one, will receive it as an intuitive truth, that a consolidated
republican form of government therein, can never form a perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to you and your posterity, for to these objects it must be directed. This unkindred legislature therefore, composed of interests opposite and dissimilar in their nature, will in its exercise, emphatically be like a house divided against itself.
The governments of
Europe have taken their limits and form from adventitious circumstances, and nothing can be argued on the motive of agreement from them; but these adventitious political principles have nevertheless produced effects that have attracted the attention of philosophy, which have established axioms in the science of politics therefrom, as irrefragable as any in
Euclid. It is natural, says
Montesquieu, to a republic to have only a small territory, otherwise it cannot long subsist: in a large one, there are men of large fortunes, and consequently of less moderation; there are too great deposits to trust in the hands of a single subject, an ambitious person soon becomes sensible that he may be happy, great, and glorious by oppressing his fellow citizens, and that he might raise himself to grandeur, on the ruins of his country.
In large republics, the
public good is sacrificed to a thousand views, in a small one, the interest of the public is easily perceived, better understood, and more within the reach of every citizen; abuses have a less extent, and of course are less protected. He also shows you, that the duration of the republic of Sparta was owing to its having continued with the same extent of territory after all its wars; and that the ambition of
Athens and
Lacedemon to command and direct the union, lost them their liberties, and gave them a monarchy.
Read the rest below.
Anti Federalist Papers No 14 Territory to Large to Preserve Liberty from
Chuck Thompson
Visit our Podcast
Old Time radio page above and you can listen to each of the
Anti Federalist or
Federalist Papers in audio format. We have the entire series of both. Liberty Education Series.
For all the latest news,
please click on the Home button towards the top of this site.
Have a news story? Submit
it above.
Some of Gloucester's most
incredible history is found on this site in detail.
We cover what no one else
will.
Like us on Facebook, Tweet
us, Plus One us,
Follow us through email,
Become a member of this
site.
Stay up to date on all the
latest.
.jpg)
