James Winthrop and the Letters of Agrippa
James Winthrop’s Letters of Agrippa were an important contribution to the discussions around ratification of the Constitution in Massachusetts.
James Winthrop
James Winthrop’s great-great-great grandfather was John Winthrop, the founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
When the American Revolution came around, the Winthrop name still had a great deal of weight behind it.
James, still in his early 20’s, was the Librarian for Harvard when war broke out and was given the task of overseeing the removal of books for their safe keeping.
Winthrop briefly stopped his packing to fight at the Battle of Bunker Hill where he was wounded but survived to finish the task.
Anti-Federalist
Winthrop went on to work as a Register of Probate for several decades (essentially running a courthouse but not acting as judge).
During this time he became an important Anti-Federalist.
The eighteen essay collection known as Letters of Agrippa are generally credited to James. Although this cannot be 100% verified, there is little disagreement between historians over his authorship.
Letters of Agrippa
The Letters of Agrippa repeat many of the talking points argued by contemporary Anti-Federalists, with an eye towards the Federal Government’s negative effects on the economy.
Letters VI-IX are especially noteworthy. They are often given their own title...Unrestricted Power Over Commerce Should Not Be Given the National Government.
In these pieces, Winthrop argues that those who control money control power and those responsibilities should be left to the States.
The Power Over Commerce arguments appear to be directly countered in Federalist #11, though Hamilton does not name Agrippa particularly.
This was the second article in my series on the Anti-Federalist Papers.
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