Antifederalist No. 8

"THE POWER VESTED IN CONGRESS OF SENDING   TROOPS FOR SUPPRESSING 
INSURRECTIONS WILL ALWAYS ENABLE THEM TO STIFLE THE FIRST 
STRUGGLES OF FREEDOM" 

"A FEDERAL REPUBLICAN" (from Virginia) had his `letter to the 
editor' appear in The Norfolk and Portsmouth Register March 5, 
1788. 



    .... By the Articles of Confederation, the congress of the 
United State was vested with powers for conducting the common 
concerns of the continent.  They had the sole and exclusive right 
and power of determining on peace and war; of sending and 
receiving ambassadors; of entering into treaties and alliances; 
and of pointing out the respective quotas of men and men which 
each state should furnish.  But it was expressly provided that 
the money to be supplied by each state should be raised by the 
authority and direction of the legislature thereof--thus 
reserving to the states the important privilege of levying taxes 
upon their citizens in such manner as might be most conformable 
to their peculiar circumstances and form of government. With 
powers thus constituted was congress enabled to unite the general 
exertions of the continent in the cause of liberty and to carry 
us triumphantly through a long and bloody war.  It was not until 
sometime after peace and a glorious independence had been 
established that defects were discovered in that system of 
federal government which had procured to us those blessings.  It 
was then perceived that the Articles of Confederation were 
inadequate to the purposes of the union; and it was particularly 
suggested as necessary to vest in congress the further power of 
exclusively regulating the commerce of the United States, as well 
to enable us, by a system more uniform, to counteract the policy 
of foreign nations, as for other important reasons.  Upon this 
principle, a general convention of the United States was proposed 
to be held, and deputies were accordingly appointed by twelve of 
the states charged with power to revise, alter, and amend the 
Articles of Confederation.  When these deputies met, instead of 
confining themselves to the powers with which they were 
entrusted, they pronounced all amendments to the Articles of 
Confederation wholly impracticable; and with a spirit of amity 
and concession truly remarkable proceeded to form a government 
entirely new, and totally different in its principles and its 
organization.  Instead of a congress whose members could serve 
but three years out of six-and then to return to a level with 
their fellow citizens; and who were liable at all times, whenever 
the states might deem it necessary, to be recalled--Congress, by 
this new constitution, will be composed of a body whose members 
during the time they are appointed to serve, can receive no check 
from their constituents. Instead of the powers formerly granted 
to congress of ascertaining each state's quota of men and money-
to be raised by the legislatures of the different states in such 
a mode as they might think proper--congress, by this new 
government, will be invested with the formidable powers of 
raising armies, and lending money, totally independent of the 
different states.  They will moreover, have the power of leading 
troops among you in order to suppress those struggles which may 
sometimes happen among a free people, and which tyranny will 
impiously brand with the name of sedition.  On one day the state 
collector will call on you for your proportion of those taxes 
which have been laid on you by the general assembly, where you 
are fully and adequately represented; on the next will come the 
Continental collector to demand from you those taxes which shall 
be levied by the continental congress, where the whole state of 
Virginia will be represented by only ten men!  Thus shall we 
imprudently confer on so small a number the very important power 
of taking our money out of our pockets, and of levying taxes 
without control-a right which the wisdom of our state 
constitution will, in vain, have confided to the most numerous 
branch of the legislature.  Should the sheriff or state collector 
in any manner aggrieve you either in person or property, these 
sacred rights are amply secured by the most solemn compact.  
Beside, the arm of government is always at hand to shield you 
from his injustice and oppression. But if a Continental 
collector, in the execution of his office, should invade your 
freedom (according to this new government, which has expressly 
declared itself paramount to all state laws and constitutions) 
the state of which you are a citizen will have no authority to 
afford you relief.  A continental court may, indeed, be 
established in the state, and it may be urged that you will find 
a remedy here; but, my fellow citizens, let me ask, what 
protection this will afford you against the insults or rapacity 
of a continental officer, when he will have it in his power to 
appeal to the seat of congress perhaps at several hundred miles 
distance, and by this means oblige you to expend hundreds of 
pounds in obtaining redress for twenty shillings unjustly 
extorted?  Thus will you be necessarily compelled either to make 
a bold effort to extricate yourselves from these grievous and 
oppressive extortions, or you will be fatigued by fruitless 
attempts into the quiet and peaceable surrender of those rights, 
for which the blood of your fellow citizens has been shed in 
vain.  But the latter will, no doubt, be the melancholy fate of a 
people once inspired with the love of liberty, as the power 
vested in congress of sending troops for suppressing 
insurrections will always enable them to stifle the first 
struggles of freedom. 
                                A FEDERAL REPUBLICAN