The History Book Club discussion

This is the thread for the discussion of FEDERALIST. NO 22.

This paper is titled OTHER DEFECTS OF THE PRESENT CONFEDERATION (CONT'D) .

This paper was written by Alexander Hamilton.

by Alexander Hamilton

Hello Folks,

We will be continuing with the next paper of the Federalist Papers - Federalist No. 22.

FEDERALIST No. 22 OTHER DEFECTS OF THE PRESENT CONFEDERATION (CONT'D) (Written by Alexander Hamilton)

If you are catching up, that is no problem; we have a thread dedicated to each paper so you can catch up when you are able.

Bentley

We find ourselves on the following paper:

FEDERALIST No. 22 Other Defects of the Present Confederation (Cont'd) (Alexander Hamilton)

Links to 22:

http://federali.st/22

You can also listen to them being read orally to you:

Federalist 22 audio:

http://michaelscherervoice.com/the-fe...

Source: Michael Scherer Voice

How To Get the Most Out of Your Reading:

May I also suggest that you bring up the on line text version of the paper you are reading (in this case Federalist Paper 22) or open to it in your book and then start the audio from the Michael Scherer Voice; it does have more power when a strong voice is reading the paper and you will get more out of it reading along while listening to it.

Summary:

Federalist No. 22 is an essay by Alexander Hamilton, the twenty-second of the Federalist Papers.

It was published on December 14, 1787 under the pseudonym Publius, the name under which all the Federalist Papers were published. This essay continues with a theme started in Federalist No. 21. It is titled, "The Same Subject Continued: Other Defects of the Present Confederation."

The power to regulate commerce is one of the strongest reasons to switch from the Articles of Confederation to a stronger "federal superintendence."

The lack of a centralized federal government to regulate commerce has acted as a bar against the "formation of beneficial treaties with foreign powers" and has also lead to dissatisfaction between the states.

Several states have attempted to create concert "prohibitions, restrictions, and exclusions, to influence the conduct of that kingdom in this particular" area.

However, "arising from the lack of a general authority, and from clashing and dissimilar views in the states" has frustrated every experiment of the kind, and will continue to hinder the true growth that could be realized under a federal system.

Aside from the regulation of commerce, the power to raise and keep and army, under the powers of the Articles of Confederation, is merely a power of making requisitions upon the states for quotas of men.

"This practice in the course of the late war, was found replete with obstructions to a vigorous, and to an economical system of defense."

Publius went on to state that this lead to a competition between the states, which turned into an auction for men. Having states bid on men for defense, "is not merely unfriendly to economy and vigor, than it is to an equal distribution of the 'burthen'.

Also, Publius states, that the right of equal suffrage among the states is another exceptionable part of the confederation.

"The sense of the majority should prevail. However this kind of logical legerdemain will never counteract the plain suggestions of justice and common sense."

He continues by stating, "for we can enumerate nine states, which contain less than a majority of the people and it is constitutionally possible, that these nine may give the vote."

The overall gist of Federalist No. 22, is that the current structure under the confederation is weak and unable to support the demands that are required of a global nation.

Source: Wikipedia

Tell me if you have read Federalist Paper 22 and please quote the sentence, sentences, paragraph that you like the best or which moved or impressed you the most.

Please discuss why you made that selection and what you liked about it or why it stood out.

Let us try to discuss the Federalist Papers specifically in this discussion; it really is not a political discussion; it really is an examination of the papers themselves. Of course, policy and politics may come up and things we are doing now versus what the papers stated; but the focus is always the papers first and politics second not the other way around. In fact, all three of the authors of the papers changed their positions frequently.

Remember all = that in message three there is a link to an on line version that you can read easily, read along to the audio which I recommended you do, and you can also do a cut and paste of the sentence, sentences, paragraphs you liked and then do a paste into your post so that we can discuss what you liked and why.

Also, remember that once you have expressed your view; that others can post a dispute, an explanation, or an agreement. Everybody is entitled to their opinion but let us keep the discussions about the papers not about anyone's personal beliefs. You are not going to persuade someone to adopt your political beliefs here; so when somebody disagrees with you or has another point of view - that is OK - let it go. We are here to discuss the papers and get a lot out of the discussion not promote an ideology.

Keep discussion civil and respectful.

In a previous discussion - Patricrk posted: ``The commerce of the German empire [2] is in continual trammels from the multiplicity of the duties which the several princes and states exact upon the merchandises passing through their territories, by means of which the fine streams and navigable rivers with which Germany is so happily watered are rendered almost useless.''

In EUROPE, 1814-1945 by Anthony Wood, he implies that one of the principal reasons for the rise of Prussian power in the early 1800's was not their military but the fact they had created a custom union with neighboring principalities which was shown to be of such great benefit in increasing trade and prosperity that the whole area of North East Germany became dominant. One of the benefits of the European community has been the dropping of trade barriers allowing the whole area to became one market

by Anthony Wood (no photo)