Federal Farmer VII - Persuasion or Force
In Federal Farmer VII an Anti-Federalist author asks just how representative the House of Representatives actually is.
Federal Farmer VII
January 23, 1788
In Federal Farmer VII the Anti-Federalist author discusses the difference between governments that use persuasion and governments that use force to convince their citizens to comply.
He then begins a multi-paper discussion on problems with the House of Representatives.
Despotic or Free
The Federal Farmer first reviews the two main forces that steer government...force and persuasion.
When a government uses force, it is usually despotic and needs violence to compel the corroboration of the people.
On the other hand, when a free government uses just laws the citizens voluntarily comply.
He notes that these are both extremes and most nations fall somewhere in the middle, but makes it clear that the United States should make its object a government of persuasion.
Representation
The Farmer then turns his attention to the House of Representatives.
He repeats the common Anti-Federalist argument that the number of Representatives is too small to accurately demonstrate the feelings of the large multitude of Americans.
The Farmer then takes another step to indicate that this body, which should represent the democratic part of the nation, will quickly fall under the control of a few wealthy factions who are too removed from the people to know what they need on a daily basis.
He continues on a lengthy monolog about the need to account for different professions (merchants, mechanics, artisans) in Congress so that each segment of the nation would be represented.
This series is only part of my regular publications, so…
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