The Impartial Examiner V - Overcorrecting the Articles of Confederation
In Impartial Examiner V, an Anti-Federalist author asks if the Articles of Confederation are really so bad that they need to be entirely replaced.
Impartial Examiner V
June 18, 1788
Impartial Examiner V is the last Paper written by an anonymous Anti-Federalist author.
In the essay, which is much shorter than the previous entries, the writer questions why total elimination of the Articles of Confederation is necessary.
Assessing the Problem
The Examiner begins this piece by reminding the reader how important a question has been set before the people of Virginia.
He furthers the discussion by pointing out that a radical overhaul of government should really only be considered when the ‘evils’ of the current government bleed into every aspect of the system.
If the issues are singular, the current government is better to be amended than replaced.
Overcorrection
The Examiner outlines his belief that the issues under the Articles of Confederation were obvious but minor.
Just like the proposed Constitution contains the opportunity to make amendments, so too did the Articles.
Everyone, the Examiner included, understood that the ability to raise revenue under the Articles needed improvement.
However, he believed this change could be made from within the current Confederation instead of making a complete overhaul which might endanger the liberties of the people.
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