The First Anti-Federalists - Robert Yates and John Lansing, Jr.
Since the day after Constitution Day is Anti-Federalist Friday, I thought we’d look at the two Constitutional Convention Delegates who left early in disgust.
Robert Yates and John Lansing, Jr. were two of New York’s three Delegates to the Constitutional Convention, but didn’t stay long.
Resistant New York
We might look at New York as a ‘Big Government’ State now, but things were not always this way.
In fact, during the American Founding, New York was perhaps the most Anti-Federalist State in the Union.
The effort to prevent ratification of the Constitution was headed, in large part, by two of the Delegates who were at the Philadelphia Convention...Robert Yates and John Lansing, Jr.
Yates and Lansing
Robert Yates was an extremely successful Albany lawyer and John Lansing had been his student.
The two men were admired as some of the most respected legal minds in the State which is why they were chosen (along with Alexander Hamilton) to attend the Constitutional Convention.
The problem was, they did not know it was the Constitutional Convention.
The Philadelphia Convention, as it was originally called, was meant to improve the Articles of Confederation...not start a new government!
The Convention
As with many of the attendees, Yates and Lansing were shocked to hear that a new government was in the works.
The instructions they were given by the New York Assembly were only to fix the Articles, not throw them in the trash.
At the time, many men were keenly aware of how important it was not to overstep the instructions they were given by their State (remember, NY ‘abstained’ from voting on independence a decade earlier while they ‘await(ed) further instructions’).
The First Anti-Federalists
Believing they would be in hot water for helping with the new Constitution, and not in favor of creating a strong national government anyway, Yates and Lansing left the Convention after just six weeks.
This made them the first two people to outright reject the Constitution...the original Anti-Federalists.
They returned home to inform Governor George Clinton of their decision.
With Clinton and Melancton Smith, Yates and Lansing led the fight against the Constitution in New York.
Robert Yates used his pen, writing most (if not all) of the Brutus Letters.
John Lansing used his tongue, taking the lead in a futile attempt to prevent the new system at the New York Ratification Convention.
If you liked this article, make sure you check out these full biographies of Yates and Lansing:
Robert Yates Storms Out of the Constitutional Convention
Former Chancellor John Lansing Vanishes
In the short time Robert Yates was in the Convention, he took extensive notes. These notes, along with reflections by Martin Luther, were later compiled by John Lansing and released as ‘Secret Proceedings.’
It’s a great way to understand their feelings so pick up a copy through the affiliate link below.
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