Hamilton's magnum opus.

"The Federalist" is a compilation of a number of articles, 85 in all, written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, in support of the document approved by the Constitutional Convention that met in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. These articles appeared in New York newspapers in 1787 and 1788, the way "op-ed" pieces appear today, to encourage unenthusiastic New York voters to ratify the proposed constitution. Most of the articles were written by Hamilton, some by Madison, and a few by John Jay. They were all published anonymously, according to the fashion of the times, signed by "Publius". (Publius Valerius Publicola in Roman legend had been a statesman much loved by the Roman people.)

One of the many ironies of the long and intricate story of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution is that Hamilton, arguably one of the most influential advocates of it, both in "The Federalist" and in the New York State Legislature, was probably not nearly as enthusiastic about it privately as he was publicly. Charges of monarchist leanings dogged him throughout his public life, and he was on record as advocating a chief executive elected for life. Nevertheless, he was a vigorous advocate for the product of the Philadelphia Convention because he thought that it was the best that was possible under the circumstances, and that America needed more than anything else a strong central government if it was to maintain its newly gained independence.

Another irony is that he persuaded Americans to adopt a constitution that was and is much more conservative in outlook than is the majority of the American people, primarily because most Americans, then and now, sense that a conservative governmental structure is essential to our basic security as a nation-state in an unfriendly and unpredictable world. The desperately insecure state of the early American nation is one of the things that comes through vividly in Hamilton's articles. He also makes clear the incompetence of the government of the Articles of Confederation.

The concern of the Founders for the spread of political "faction" is a constant theme. Even as "The Federalist" was being written, partisan political factions were forming along the general lines we see to this day.

My favorite quotations from "The Federalist":

#1 (Hamilton):

"It has been frequently remarked, that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country to decide, by their conduct and example, the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not, of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend, for their political constitutions, on accident and force."

#6 (Hamilton):

"Is it not time to awake from the deceitful dream of a golden age, and to adopt as a practical maxim for the direction of our political conduct, that we, as well as the other inhabitants of the globe, are yet remote from the happy empire of perfect wisdom and perfect virtue?"

#22 (Hamilton):

"The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure original fountain of all legitimate authority."

#51 (Madison):

"But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary."

Some may find this language difficult, but I find it to be crystal clear.

NOTE:

My copy of The Federalist is The Gideon Edition published in 2001 by Liberty Fund, Inc., ISBN 0-86597-289-3. I have been unable to locate this book in the Epinions database. This very authoritative edition is inexpensive, very well printed, and contains, among other things, a very helpful Reader's Guide and a copy of the U.S. Constitution annotated to The Federalist.