The Federalist with Other Writings of Early America

6b Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. With An Appendix containing The Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius on the Proclamation of Neutrality of 1793. With The Original Articles of Confederation. And the Constitution of the United States. Hallowell: Glazier, Masters & Smith, 1842.

Notes

This 1842 edition of The Federalist is particularly noteworthy for bringing together several foundational documents of American government and political philosophy in a single volume. Published in Hallowell, Maine, by Glazier, Masters & Smith, the edition includes the original Federalist essays alongside the celebrated correspondence between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison concerning President George Washington’s Proclamation of Neutrality in 1793. It also reproduces the original Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States, allowing readers to trace the nation’s political development from its first governing framework to the establishment and early interpretation of the federal Constitution. The edition further identifies Madison’s contributions as having been corrected by the author himself, reflecting an important tradition of textual revision and attribution in the publication history of The Federalist.

The Letters of Pacificus and Helvidius, written in 1793, document a significant constitutional debate between two of America’s most influential Founding Fathers, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Following the outbreak of war between revolutionary France and Great Britain, President George Washington issued a proclamation declaring American neutrality, prompting fierce disagreement over the constitutional limits of presidential authority. Writing under the pseudonym “Pacificus,” Hamilton defended Washington’s proclamation and argued for broad executive authority in foreign affairs. Madison, responding under the name “Helvidius,” challenged Hamilton’s interpretation, emphasizing Congress’s constitutional powers concerning war and foreign policy. Their exchange exposed fundamental disagreements about the separation of powers and helped define the emerging divisions between the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. The letters remain important early interpretations of presidential authority and the constitutional balance between the executive and legislative branches.

Adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 and fully ratified in 1781, the Articles of Confederation established the first governing framework of the United States following its declaration of independence from Great Britain. Designed to preserve the sovereignty of the individual states, the Articles created a deliberately limited national government with no independent executive or federal judiciary and little authority to collect taxes or regulate interstate commerce. Although the Confederation government successfully guided the nation through the final years of the Revolutionary War and negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783, its structural weaknesses became increasingly apparent during the postwar period. These difficulties ultimately prompted the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where delegates abandoned efforts to amend the Articles in favor of drafting an entirely new Constitution. Their inclusion alongside The Federalist Papers provides essential historical context for understanding the arguments in favor of a stronger federal government.

Drafted during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787 and taking effect in 1789, the United States Constitution established the fundamental structure of the American federal government. Replacing the Articles of Confederation, it divided national authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches while establishing a system of checks and balances intended to prevent the concentration of political power. Its ratification sparked intense public debate, inspiring the Federalist essays as well as opposition from those concerned about the potential dangers of centralized authority. The subsequent adoption of the Bill of Rights in 1791 helped address demands for explicit protections of individual liberties. Presented alongside the original Articles of Confederation and the essays written in its defense, the Constitution completes this volume’s remarkable collection of documents illustrating the origins, principles, and early constitutional debates of the American republic.

Description 

Brown canvas boards with brown leather spine. More modern rebinding with original spine label in second compartment. Foxing throughout the book with larger dampstaining spots on the final section of pages 400 and beyond. Very good condition overall.