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cuz1961 seems to be under the impression that republics and oligarchies are mutually exclusive.

A republic is "a state in which the exercise of the sovereign power is lodged in representatives elected by the people."

An oligarchy is simply a "form of government in which the supreme power is placed in a few hands."

Now, historically, during colonial America, there were numerous restrictions on just who had the power to vote and choose one's representatives. "Democracy" was considered a pejorative, associated with mob rule: by and large, at the time of the Declaration of Independence, only white men who owned property could vote (and in some states, there were still religious tests as well).

It's also interesting that cuz1961 said the following in post #47: "At least you kept Adams name out of your filthy lie hole." Why? Because Adams in no way favored the enfranchisement of additional classes of voters:

From John Adams to James Sullivan, 5-26-1776: "Depend upon it, sir, it is dangerous to open So fruitfull a Source of Controversy and Altercation, as would be opened by attempting to alter the Qualifications of Voters. There will be no End of it. New Claims will arise. Women will demand a Vote. Lads from 12 to 21 will think their Rights not enough attended to, and every Man, who has not a Farthing, will demand an equal Voice with any other in all Acts of State. It tends to confound and destroy all Distinctions, and prostrate all Ranks, to one common Levell. "

And, just three days later, from John Adams to Benhamin Hichborn, 5-29-1776: "How the Representatives will be Settled I cannot guess. But I really hope they will not attempt any material Alteration in the Qualification of Voters. This will open a Door for endless disputes, and I am much afraid for numberless Corruptions."

Based on available historical statistics, approximately 44,000 votes were counted during the first presidential election, relative to a total population of nearly three million (or 2.4 million, if you discount the slave population). If that seems low to you, that's because it was by design (because of the states casting electoral votes at the time, only 6 of them did it through any form of popular vote; Connecticut, Georgia, New Jersey, and South Carolina did not have any vote for presidential electors whatsoever).

It was a republican form of government where those eligible to participate tended to be those of a particular class and a particular character. Allowing those outside of that class and character to participate would have been anathema to many of the Founders, because — given human nature — it would only lead to dissension. And can you blame them?

In other words, a republic wherein those who had power were few in number relative to the populace at large, and were practically all from the same type of individual. An oligarchic republic, if you will.

(Now we have an oligarchic democracy in practical terms, but that's neither here nor there...)