Antifederalist: Top Warnings from the Federal Farmer

In his series of 18 letters, Federal Farmer repeatedly warned about the dangers of centralized power, predicting that the proposed government would end in “the destruction of freedom.”

Path to Liberty: August 14, 2023

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Treaties, Trials and Supremacy: Patrick Henry’s Anti-Federalist Speeches 8-10

In a series of speeches during the Virginia Ratifying Convention, Patrick Henry warned against a combination of the treaty, the judicial power and - the supremacy clause - that it would lead to government violating individual liberty with impunity.

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Tax Battle! Henry vs Hamilton on the Requisition System

In a huge change from the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution eliminated “requisitions,” what many saw as a primary reason for the new system of taxation. Rejecting Alexander Hamilton and other Federalists in this debate were Patrick Henry and the anti-federalists.

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The Federal Court System is Dangerous to the Constitution and Liberty

Many opponents of the Constitution - and some supporters - warned us about the power of the federal court system. Time seems to have proven them right. It’s absolutely foolish to leave the fate of your liberty to the chance that five out of nine politically-connected lawyers – employed by the largest government in history – will do the right thing and limit that same government’s power.

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General Welfare Warnings

Supporters of the monster state want you to believe that the "general Welfare clause" empowers the government to pretty much do whatever it wants. And while that couldn't be further from how things are supposed to be, many leading Anti-Federalists - and others - warned this was just how things would play out in practice in the long run.

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Anti-Federalist Warnings: Government Power is Forever

During the debates over ratification of the Constitution, Anti-Federalists repeatedly warned about the dangers of too much power. One of their prominent arguments centered around the maxim that once power expands, people with power never seem to voluntarily give it back.

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George Mason’s Warnings on Power and Consolidation

Many anti-federalists warned us about the dangers of centralized power. And George Mason was one of the most prominent, warning that a consolidated government “is totally subversive of every principle which has hitherto governed us,” and that it “is one of the worst curses that can possibly befall a nation.”

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Taxation: 5 Anti-Federalist Warnings

From the beginning, the federal taxing power evoked strong opposition from Anti-Federalists. They warned it would lead to infinite and incomprehensible power - and a tyranny potentially worse than they endured under the British.

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