Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Monorprise
Well, we disagree.

Hardly eleven years prior to the Constitutional Convention we fought for “the rights of Englishmen,” rights that existed under a monarchy. Monarchy is not synonymous with oppressive government as is often implied at FR. George III and Parliament betrayed the principles of a system we Americans admired. I am not aware of any colonial pamphlets prior to the Tea Party that espoused separation in order to form a republic. All Great Britain probably had to do was grant us some members to the Commons and House of Lords as was done for Scotland, Wales and the whole revolutionary mess could have been postponed if not avoided entirely. The Constitutional Convention was peppered with comments respectful of the British system.

But, despite the admiration, a parliamentary system would not do for Americans.

The gamut of dispositions at the Convention ran from tweaking the Articles of Confederation at one end to the establishment of a strong monarchical/aristocratic system at the other, as per Hamilton.

Speaking of the Articles, William Patterson (NJ)’s plan involved the grant of more power to Congress without solving the underlying structural problems of Confederacies. For instance, because some States refused to follow the peace treaty and not allow British creditors to sue in state courts, the Brits not only did not leave western outposts granted to the US under the terms, but fomented Indian attacks on American settlers. The Articles of Confederation were literally getting Americans killed.

IMO, the Articles were more of an affront and certainly more dangerous to life and property than Hamilton’s plan, yet for some reason, only Hamilton takes the barbs and insults at this forum.

Neither Monarchy nor Confederacy got very far. In fact, Hamilton's ideas got exactly nowhere, no debate whatsoever. We chose early on to establish a republic.

Given the historic record, it is illogical and simple minded to assign devious intent to establish an oppressive government to any of the Framers.

98 posted on 06/24/2011 4:52:17 PM PDT by Jacquerie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies ]


To: Jacquerie

Without going into the various alternatives to a Constitutional convention some of which Hamilton and his elk actively conspired to sabotage.

The point I was making was Hamilton was not happy with the limited powers of the Federal Constitution of 1787. He to that end deliberately sought to undermined and/or ignore them limits. Hamilton was actually in no small part the cause of the Whiskey Rebellion. It is a testament to George Washington’s eternal shame that he aided in putting down that just rebellion.


99 posted on 06/24/2011 5:23:29 PM PDT by Monorprise
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson