The Federalist Papers
“Secure the Blessings of Liberty”
December 20, 2016
Overview
We the People of the United States,
in Order to form a more perfect Union [1, 14, 39],
establish Justice [5, 78],
insure domestic Tranquility [10],
provide for the common defense [23. 24. 69],
promote the general Welfare [11, 22],
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity,
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America [84, 85].
Some Definitions
• SECURE: To relieve from exposure to danger, make safe against adverse
contingencies, put beyond hazard of losing.
• POSTERITY: All future generations of people.
Expanded Statement
And [relieve from exposure to danger, make safe against
adverse contingencies, and put beyond hazard of losing]
the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and [all our future
generations].
• In other words, having achieved Liberty for ourselves, how can we safeguard it for the
future?
Federalist 39 (Hamilton)
• Hamilton addresses two questions in this paper:
1) Is the form of government republican?
2) Is the form of government Federal or National?
• We examined the second question in detail in the second session of the study group.
• Today we are going to examine in more detail the first question, the republican
nature of the government, as it bears on “securing the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity.”
Is It A Republic?
• The first question that offers itself is, whether the general form and aspect
of the government be strictly republican.
• It is evident that no other form would be reconcilable with the genius of the
people of America; with the fundamental principles of the Revolution; or
with the honorable determination which animates every votary of freedom,
to rest all our political experiments on the capacity of mankind for selfgovernment.
(Votary: Sworn adherent or fervent admirer.)
Republic
What is a Republic?
In determining the nature of a republic, there are two possible places we can
look:
1) Historical examples of governments called republics.
2) Philosophical and practical principles of republican government.
Historical Examples
• Holland: “No particle of the supreme authority is derived from the people.”
• Venice: “Absolute power over the great body of the people is exercised, in
the most absolute manner, by a small body of hereditary rulers.”
• Poland: “…a mixture of aristocracy and monarchy in their worst forms…”
• England: “Has one republican branch only, combined with a hereditary
aristocracy and monarch.”
Conclusion
• The answer cannot be found by examining those governments which are
generally called republics as they bear little relationship to each other or to a
common set of republican principles.
• The answer must be found instead by examining the principles upon which
republican government is founded.
The Principles of Republican Government
All truly republican governments share two principles:
• 1) They derive all their powers directly or indirectly from the great body of
the people.
• 2) They are administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure, for
a limited period, or during good behavior.
The Principles of Republican Government
(continued)
• It is essential to such a government that it be derived from the great body
of the society, not from an inconsiderable proportion of a favored class.
• It is sufficient for such a government that the persons administering it
• 1) be appointed, either directly or indirectly, by the people
• 2) hold their appointments by either of the tenures just specified. (during pleasure, for a
limited period, or during good behavior)
• What is the difference between essential and sufficient? What is Hamilton
getting at here?
The Principles of Republican Government
(continued)
Modern language has blurred subtle distinctions of meaning by turning everything it
can into a superlative synonym. Essential has come to be a synonym for necessary, but
that is not its original meaning.
• Essential: of, relating to, or constituting essence.
• Sufficient: meeting the requirement for.
• In other words, the essential characteristic is a broad, over-arching philosophical
description of its essence. The sufficient characteristic amounts to the practical
steps which, if taken, will produce a government in harmony with that
philosophical essence.
The Principles of Republican Government
(continued)
Why is that important?
• “Otherwise every government in the United States, as well as every
other popular government that has been or can be well organized or
well executed, would be degraded from the republican character.”
• In other words, adherence to the sufficient principles prevent degradation of
the republican character of the government.
• Thus that adherence is necessary “to secure the Blessings of Liberty to
ourselves and our Posterity.”
Does The Constitution Do So?
• What are those “sufficient” requirements again?
• It is sufficient for such a government that the persons administering it
• 1) be appointed, either directly or indirectly, by the people
• 2) hold their appointments by either of the tenures just specified. (during pleasure, for a
limited period, or during good behavior)
Appointed By The People
The Constitution meets the first requirement of being appointed by the people
because:
• 1) The House of Representatives is directly elected by the people.
• 2) The Senate and President are indirectly chosen by the people (that is are
chosen by representatives elected by the people).
• 3) The judiciary likewise is indirectly chosen by the people.
Tenure of Office
The Constitution meets the second requirement of tenure of officials limited to during
pleasure of the people, for a limited period, or during good behavior because:
•
•
•
•
The House is periodically elective, as in all the States, and for a period of two years.
The Senate is elective for the period of six years
The president is elected for four years, but may be impeached at any time.
The term of judges is good behavior
No Aristos!
• “Could any further proof be required of the republican complexion of this
system, the most decisive one might be found in its absolute prohibition of
titles of nobility, both under the federal and State governments; and in the
express guarantee of the republican form in the latter.”
Conclusion
• Having recently gained their Liberty from a foreign oppressor, the American
people were anxious not to lose it to domestic tyranny.
• Americans almost universally believed in self-government as embodied in
republican principles.
• Hamilton clearly lays out the argument for the need for a government
founded on republican principles as the only guarantee of enduring Liberty,
and then demonstrates how the Constitution delivers on those principles.