Antifederalist No. 15

RHODE ISLAND IS RIGHT! 


This essay appeared in The Massachusetts Gazette, December 7, 
1787, as reprinted From The Freeman's Journal; (Or, The North-
American Intelligencer?) 


     The abuse which has been thrown upon the state of Rhode 
Island seems to be greatly unmerited.  Popular favor is variable, 
and those who are now despised and insulted may soon change 
situations with the present idols of the people. Rhode Island has 
out done even Pennsylvania in the glorious work of freeing the 
Negroes in this country, without which the patriotism of some 
states appears ridiculous.  The General Assembly of the state of 
Rhode Island has prevented the further importation of Negroes, 
and have made a law by which all blacks born in that state after 
March, 1784, are absolutely and at once free. 
     They have fully complied with the recommendations of 
Congress in regard to the late treaty of peace with Great 
Britain, and have passed an act declaring it to be the law of the 
land.  They have never refused their quota of taxes demanded by 
Congress, excepting the five per cent impost, which they 
considered as a dangerous tax, and for which at present there is 
perhaps no great necessity, as the western territory, of which a 
part has very lately been sold at a considerable price, may soon 
produce an immense revenue; and, in the interim, Congress may 
raise in the old manner the taxes which shall be found necessary 
for the support of the government. 
     The state of Rhode Island refused to send delegates to the 
Federal Convention, and the event has manifested that their 
refusal was a happy one as the new constitution, which the 
Convention has proposed to us, is an elective monarchy, which is 
proverbially the worst government.  This new government would 
have been supported at a vast expense, by which our taxes-the 
right of which is solely vested in Congress, (a circumstance 
which manifests that the various states of the union will be 
merely corporations) --would be doubled or trebled.  The liberty 
of the press is not stipulated for, and therefore may be invaded 
at pleasure.  The supreme continental court is to have, almost in 
every case, "appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact," 
which signifies, if there is any meaning in words, the setting 
aside the trial by jury.  Congress will have the power of 
guaranteeing to every state a right to import Negroes for twenty 
one years, by which some of the states, who have now declined 
that iniquitous traffic, may re-enter into it-for the private 
laws of every state are to submit to the superior jurisdiction of 
Congress.  A standing army is to be kept on foot, by which the 
vicious, the sycophantick, and the time-serving will be exalted, 
and the brave, the patriotic, and the virtuous will be depressed. 

     The writer, therefore, thinks it the part of wisdom to 
abide, like the state of Rhode Island, by the old articles of 
confederation, which, if re-examined with attention, we shall 
find worthy of great regard; that we should give high praise to 
the manly and public spirited sixteen members, who lately seceded 
from our house of Assembly [in Pennsylvania]; and that we should 
all impress with great care, this truth on our minds-That it is 
very easy to change a free government into an arbitrary one, but 
that it is very difficult to convert tyranny into freedom.