The Sedition Act of 1798 :: Government American History Papers

For the first few age of Constitutional governwork forcet, low theleadership of George Washington, there was a unity, commonly calledFederalism that even out James capital of Wisconsin (the future architect of the RepublicanParty) acknowledged in describing the Republican form of government-- And according to the degree of pleasure and pride we smelling in beingrepublicans, ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and documentationthe character of Federalists. Although legislators had seriousdifferences of opinions, political unity was considered absolutelyessential for the perceptual constancy of the nation.Political agencyies or factionswere considered evil as Complaints are everywhere heard from our nighconsiderate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public andprivate faith, and of public and individualised liberty, that our governments aretoo unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of bear uponparties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to therules of justice and the rights of the pocket-sized party, but by the superiorforce of an interested and overbearing majority_ popular perception offactions were related to British excesses and thought to be the mortaldiseases under which popular governments have everywhere perished. JamesMadison wrote in Federalist document 10, By a faction, I understand anumber of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of thewhole, who are united and set off by some common impulse of passion, or ofinterest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent andaggregate interests of the community. He went on to explain that factionis part of human nature that the CAUSES of faction cannot be removed, andthat relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its EFFECTS. The significant point Madison was to make in this essay was that the Unionwas a safeguard against factions in that even if the influence of factiousleade rs may kindle a flame within their particular States, they will beunable to spread a general conflagration through the other States.What caused men like doubting Thomas Jefferson and James Madison to defy traditionand public perceptions against factions and build an resistor party? Did they finally agree with Edmund Burkes famous aphorism When bad mencombine, the good must associate else they will fall, one by one, anunpitied give oneself up in a contemptible struggle? Did the answer lie intheir opposition with the agenda of Alexander Hamilton and the increases ofpower both to the executive split as well as the legislative branch ofgovernment?