Irrefragable Axioms

By the middle of November, speeches were being made and response were being written. James Wilson’s speech in Pennsylvania had caused a great stir, and Cato’s letter was still starting debates in New York. But not everybody was in agreement with Cato’s concerns. As we have seen Cæsar was rather snarky in his idea that Cato should just shut up and go along with the Constitution, lest the “American Fabius” be compelled to shove tit down his throat. Another federalist writer took deep exception to Cato’s arguments in favor of the Montesquieuian view of the size of republics. As you know Montesquieu was adamant that in order to be successful, republics had to be small. Very small. Like half the size of the City of New York in those days. To say that it was an Article of Faith among the Anti-Federalists that the proposed national government would fail simple on the grounds that it was too physically large, would be an understatement. As we have also said, the Federalists seemed to lack a basic understanding of human – and particularly American – nature. when Americus – an ardent Federalist – put pen to paper to respond to Cato, he made it clear that nobody could possibly take Montesquieu and his irrefragable axiom seriously…