The republican form of government established by the Constitution is superior to other plans of government. It does not fall into the category of turbulent and anarchic republican governments such as Ancient Greece or Modern Italy. Instead, America lays claim discovering the unmixed and extensive republic.

The natural limit of a republic is the distance from the center that will barely allow the representatives to meet as often as necessary to administer public affairs. Since a congress has continually met, with representatives from each state, up until this point, we must assume that it will be continually possible to do so.

Furthermore, the proposed plan of government allows for shared responsibilities with state governments, which are still located closer to the people. The purpose of the government is to preserve the union of the 13 states, and allow for additional states to join as necessary. The communications and ease of transportation throughout the country is daily improved. Almost every state is on at least one side, a frontier, and therefore finds incentive to join in the union for protection. Therefore, those states that lie farthest from the heart of the union will also be the most exposed to foreign danger and most compelled to maintain the union.

Americans have never been inclined to shy away from newness in favor of antiquity and tradition. They should be proud of the experimentations made with the confederacy that is now upon them to improve and perpetuate. If their original work contained imperfections, it is amazing how few there were. It is left to the current plan of union to fix them.

The imperfections of the original plan of government led to the last stage of national humiliation, making it obvious that the United States was bordering on anarchy. The problems of the government include poor public credit, mounting debts, and an inability to repel foreign nations on our territory, to defend our right to free navigation of the Mississippi River, or to serve as ambassadors that are well received abroad. It is terrible that such poverty of pride and possessions should befall a nation that is so rich in its abundance of land.

The biggest overall problem with the original plan of government is that it has no authority to compel, only to recommend. The confederation government cannot directly extend its requirements to individual citizens of America. The government needs the authority to enforce its laws, either through military or judicial powers.

Popular pages: The Federalist Papers (1787-1789)