Summary

The first matter for Hamilton, Jay, and Madison to establish is the need for a united federal government instead of a series of separate state nations or three or four confederacies. This paper appeals to the people’s notion that Providence has given them this land—essentially, ‘God gave it to us as one land, therefore it should remain one land’, or at least, ‘this land has natural features that suggest unity (oceans) over division’. The displacement of Native Americans is accorded divine favor. The paper cites a common heritage: “a people descended from the same ancestors, speaking the same language, professing the same religion, attached to the same principles of government”. They have fought unitedly alongside one another (Britain and the Native Americans), and they have created treaties and engaged in wars together. Extending the latter point, Publius (John Jay) argues they sought a united federal government before the war was even over. Leaving an opening for later critiquing the Articles of Confederacy, Publius cites the recent interest in reforming the federal government as evidence people want a united government to continue. Then Publius turns to an argument of authority: the framers were virtuous and wise men, and many of them have been in Congress–therefore, a united federal government is best.

Next, Publius acknowledges there was opposition to a united government as early as 1774. He casts those who favored this opposition as ‘deceived and deluded’–a bit ad hominen to push his point–and argued this was a minority. He ultimately appeals to the justness of rule of the majority, that the people have always known what was best on this score–suggesting that deterrents of a united federal government are not representative of the people. Why would some oppose it, he asks? ‘I’ll address it in later papers.’ Finally, he says that to give up the union is to give up greatness.

A significant line occurs near the beginning: > Nothing is more certain than the indispensable necessity of government, and it is equally undeniable, that whenever and however it is instituted, the people must cede to it some of their natural rights in order to vest it with requisite powers.