Click on document to see a description and a link to the full text.

View All by Date | View All by State |
View only "Indoors" Events | View only "Out-of-Doors" Events |
View only Federalists | View only Antifederalists |
View only Essential Federalists | View only Essential Antifederalist

1787  October 1787  Oct 5, 1787: Centinel I (Pennsylvania) The Antifederalist Centinel suggests that "all the blessings of liberty and the dearest privileges of freemen are now at stake and dependent on your present conduct." But since the plan is inspired by John Adams's political thought which presumes 1) a balancing of the orders of society and 2) that "the administrators of every government are actuated by views of private interest and ambition & [and] & jarring adverse interests." Furthermore, the plan encourages the exercise of extensive powers over an extensive territory which is a recipe not "for a regular balanced government & but & a permanent ARISTOCRACY." Full Text of Document  Oct 24, 1787: Centinel II (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  November 1787  Nov 8, 1787: Centinel III (Pennsylvania) The Antifederalist Centinel, echoing the remarks of Federalist 1, reminds his readers that they are called upon to make a decision "which involves in it not only your fate, but that of your posterity for ages to come." Your determination will either ensure the possession of those blessings which render life desirable, or entail those evils which make existence a curse. That such are the consequences of a wise or improper organization of government, the history of mankind abundantly testifies." Unfortunately, however, the proponents "have hurried on its adoption with a precipitation that betrays their design." They are up to no good. Full Text of Document  Nov 10, 1787: Massachusetts Centinel (Massachusetts) Full Text of Document  Nov 30, 1787: Centinel IV (Pennsylvania) Concerning the proposed Constitution, the Antifederalist Centinel is distrustful of "the conduct of its authors and patrons." After all, "the evil genius of darkness presided at its birth, it came forth under the veil of mystery, its true features being carefully concealed, and every deceptive art has been and is practicing to have this spurious brat received as the genuine offspring of heaven born liberty & .It is to be lamented that the interested and designing have availed themselves so successfully of the present crisis" to create a government destructive to the principles of liberty. Full Text of Document  December 1787  Dec 25, 1787: Centinel VI (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Dec 27, 1787: Centinel VII (Pennsylvania) The Antifederalist Centinel, writing shortly after the passage of the Constitution by the Pennsylvania Ratifying Convention, refuses to validity of the outcome. "Will the act of one sixth of the people, and this too founded on deception and surprise, bind the community? Is it thus that the altar of liberty, so recently crimsoned with the blood of our worthies, is to be prostrated and despotism reared on its ruins? Certainly not." He urges the people to require their representatives to call a convention for the purpose of overturning the proposed plan created by "a junto composed of the lordly and high minded gentry, of the profligate and the needy office hunters, of men principally who in the late war skulked from the common danger." Full Text of Document  Dec 29, 1787: Centinel VIII (Pennsylvania) The Antifederalist Centinel; asks where is the crisis that demands the hasty adoption of an untried plan of government? There is none: "a happy equality and independency pervades the community; it is here the human mind, untrammeled by the restraints of arbitrary power, expands every faculty & The unfortunate and oppressed of all nations fly to this grand asylum where liberty is ever protected, and industry crowned with success." He thus questions the motives of the Framers and accusing them of being "conspirators against our liberties." In fact, "so flagrant, so audacious a conspiracy against the liberties of a free people is without precedent." Full Text of Document  1788  January 1788  Jan 8, 1788: Centinel IX (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Jan 12, 1788: Centinel X (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Jan 16, 1788: Centinel XI (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Jan 23, 1788: Centinel XII (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Jan 23, 1788: A Copy of a Letter from Centinel (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Jan 30, 1788: Centinel XIII (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  February 1788  Feb 5, 1788: Centinel XIV (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Feb 22, 1788: Centinel XV (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Feb 26, 1788: Centinel XVI (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  Feb 27, 1788: Massachusetts Centinel (New Hampshire) Full Text of Document  March 1788  Mar 24, 1788: Centinel XVII (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  April 1788  Apr 9, 1788: Centinel XVIII (Pennsylvania) Full Text of Document  June  Jun 25, 1788: New Hampshire: The Ninth Pillar Massachusetts Centinel (New Hampshire) Full Text of Document