Rhode Island as an Anti-Federalist Example
Rhode Island Is Right! was a letter published in newspapers throughout America during the Constitution Ratification Debates promoting Anti-Federalist principles.
Rhode Island Is Right!
In November of 1787, a letter to the editor was published in a Boston Paper which was quickly reprinted throughout the United States.
Though it was never officially titled, and its author unknown, this Anti-Federalist essay has come to be known as Rhode Island Is Right!
It cause such a stir that Alexander Hamilton addressed it’s ideas (albeit indirectly) in Federalist #15.
Common Criticisms
Rhode Island Is Right! discussed Rhode Island’s decision not to attend the Constitutional Convention.
It further outlined several of the common complaints about the Constitution including its lack of protection for free press, the keeping of a standing army, and the absence of a trial by jury for the Supreme Court.
The essay also notes that the States will become, “mere corporations.”
Why Rhode Island Was Exceptional
The most interesting part of this Paper is the credit it gives to Rhode Island.
On top of avoiding the Constitutional Convention all together (which the author sees as a plus), the essay notes that Rhode Island has paid all of the money requested by the Continental Congress except certain impost taxes which the State saw as unfair.
Furthermore, the Paper stands out for its criticism of slavery. It compliments Rhode Island for the speed with which it was eliminating slavery within its borders, going so far as to say that the new Constitution’s rules would overrule the States, bringing slavery back to States that had rid itself of the horrid institution. In fact, the author argued, it would promote bringing slavery back to increase a States amount of representation in the new government.
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