Federal Farmer VIII - The Benefits of Nobility
In Federal Farmer VIII an Anti-Federalist author compares England to Rome in an attempt to analyze how representation should work in a free society.
Federal Farmer VIII
January 3, 1787
In Federal Farmer VIII an Anti-Federalist author compares England to Rome in an attempt to analyze how representation should work in a free society.
During his efforts, the author frequently quotes Jean-Louis de Lolme, a contemporary of the Founders who was considered an expert on constitutional law.
The Benefits of Nobility
The Farmer begins this piece with a discussion of England, noting that as far back as the Norman Conquest the people of that small island had been fighting to maintain their liberties.
He then makes the fairly shocking point that having nobility has worked in their favor.
The House of Lords was only for members of the aristocracy, while the House of Lords was made for only commoners.
This situation gave the members of the House of Lords similar interests as the people they represented and, in effect, gave the people a very real say in their government.
Roman Flaws
The Farmer then moves on to discuss ancient Rome.
It is no secret that many of the Founders of the United States were very interested in Roman history.
The Farmer points out, however, that Rome was not nearly as free as contemporary England.
Rome had a Consul and Senators, which mimicked England’s King and House of Lords, but it also had Tribunes.
The Tribunes were much smaller in number than England’s House of Commons, due largely to the much greater expanse of Rome.
In this situation, the few men elected to the Tribunes were more closely associated with the aristocracy of their day than with the general public.
Interests in the House
The Federal Farmer relates this history lesson to the subject at hand by suggesting that the US Constitution was closer to the Roman Government than the English.
Though the United States had a similar number of people to England, it was a much vaster expanse of land. Additionally, the population was growing at an extreme rate.
The Farmer’s fear was that the House of Representatives would be filled with members whose interests more closely resembled that of the Senate than that of the people at large.
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