Page 2Brutus No. 1: Guided Reading Excerpts Brutus (Robert Yates) October 18, 1787To the Citizens of the State of New-York.When the public is called to investigate and decide upon a question in which not only the presentmembers of the community are deeply interested, but upon which the happiness and misery ofgenerations yet unborn is in great measure suspended, the benevolent mind cannot help feeling itselfpeculiarly interested in the result...Perhaps this country never saw so critical a period in their political concerns. We have felt the feebleness ofthe ties by which these United-States are held together, and the want of sufficient energy in our presentconfederation, to manage, in some instances, our general concerns. Various expedients have been proposedto remedy these evils, but none have succeeded.At length a Convention of the states has been assembled, they have formed a constitution which will now,probably, be submitted to the people to ratify or reject, who are the fountain of all power, to whom alone it ofright belongs to make or unmake constitutions, or forms of government, at their pleasure.How does the above excerpt acknowledge the concepts of popular sovereignty and socialcontract? By suggesting the difficulties of having a fair Constitution that represents all of thepeople and not giving the President too much power.What fact of our first government is Brutus acknowledging in the above excerpt? Theconvention of states being assembled and the right to make or unmake constitution or formsof government.The most important question that was ever proposed to your decision...If the constitution, offered to youracceptance, be a wise one, calculated to preserve the invaluable blessings of liberty, to secure the inestimablerights of mankind, and promote human happiness, then, if you accept it, you will lay a lasting foundation ofhappiness for millions yet unborn; generations to come will rise up and call you blessed...But if, on the otherhand, this form of government contains principles that will lead to the subversion of liberty...posterity willexecrate your memory.Describe the message of Brutus in urging people to thoroughly examine the proposedConstitution. It is insisted, indeed, that this constitution must be received, beit ever so imperfect. If it has its defects, it is said, they can bebest amended when they are experienced. But remember,when the people once part with power, they can seldom ornever resume it again but by force.--Brutus 1PluralistPeople will take different sidesbased on how they receive theConstitution differently in thisquote, and will fight for theirbeliefs, even “by force”.Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislaturethereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the wholeNumber of Senators and Representatives to which the Statemay be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator orRepresentative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profitunder the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.--Constitution, Article II.IEliteThere are people appointed bythe people to vote in the state.The House of Representatives shall be composed of Memberschosen every second Year by the People of the several States,and the Electors in each State shall have the Qualificationsrequisite for Electors of the most numerous Branch of the StateLegislature.--Constitution, Article I.IEliteThere are Electors chosen by thepeople.The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into thepublic councils, have, in truth, been the mortal diseases underwhich popular governments have everywhere perished--Federalist 10ParticipatoryThis is obviously biased againstany sort of representation,leading me to believe that it is infavor of the “everyone gets aDirections: After reading, list at least 6 – 8 of the main ideas and objections that Brutus raised against the Constitution.
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