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Timeline of the Ratification of the Constitution

by Gordon Lloyd

Agrippa

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 1787
 November 1787
 December 1787
 Dec 3, 1787: Agrippa No. 4 (Massachusetts)
The Antifederalist Agrippa reminds his readers "it is the opinion of the ablest writers on the subject, that no extensive empire can be governed upon republican principles, and that such a government will degenerate to a despotism unless it be made up of a confederacy of smaller states, each having the full powers of internal regulation. This is precisely the principle which has hitherto preserved our freedom." Moreover, "the idea of an uncompounded republic, on an average, one thousand miles in length, and eight hundred in breadth, and containing six million white inhabitants all reduced to the same standard of morals or habits, and of laws, is in itself an absurdity and contrary to the whole experience of mankind." But that is the idea behind the proposed plan. Full Text of Document
 Dec 11, 1787: Agrippa No. 5 (Massachusetts)
 Dec 14, 1787: Agrippa No. 6 (Massachusetts)
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 Dec 18, 1787: Agrippa No. 7 (Massachusetts)
The Antifederalist Agrippa argues that 1) "it is vain to tell us that we ought to overlook local interests. It is only by protecting local concerns, that the interest of the whole is preserved." But that is what the proponents of the plan "tell us." He argues further that 2) "the perfection of government depends on the equality of its operation, as far as human affairs will admit, upon all parts of the empire, and upon all the citizens." He then proceeds to outline how the proposed plan will be unequal in its operation. Full Text of Document
 Dec 25, 1787: Agrippa No. 8 (Massachusetts)
 Dec 28, 1787: Agrippa No. 9 (Massachusetts)
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 1788
 January 1788
 Jan 1, 1788: Agrippa No. 10 (Massachusetts)
 Jan 8, 1788: Agrippa No. 11 (Massachusetts)
 Jan 11, 1788: Agrippa No. 12 (Massachusetts)
 Jan 23, 1788: Agrippa No. 13 (Massachusetts)
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 Jan 25, 1788: Agrippa No. 14 (Massachusetts)
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 Jan 29, 1788: Agrippa No. 15 (Massachusetts)
Massachusetts Antifederalist Agrippa, with James Wilson's October speech in mind, suggests " the friends of the new plan appear to have nothing more in view than to establish it by a popular current, without any regard to the truth of its principles. Propositions, novel, erroneous and dangerous, are boldly advanced to support a system, which does not appear to be founded in, but in every instance to contradict, the experience of mankind." Full Text of Document
 February 1788
 Feb 5, 1788: Agrippa No. 16 (Massachusetts)
Massachusetts Antifederalist Agrippa continues to address the delegates in attendance at "the Massachusetts Convention" Here he proposes that the delegates adopt fourteen amendments to the proposed Constitution. "If the new constitution means no more than the friends of it acknowledge, they certainly can have no objection to affixing a declaration in favor of the rights of states and of citizens, especially as a majority of the states have not yet voted upon it." Full Text of Document


 

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