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Often appears with: political legitimacy and consent · forms of government · unicameral legislature powers · the fear of death · state legislative authority · right of legislative repeal · revolution and the fall of states · ratification by the people · popular ratification · king william iii restoration · justice as a virtue · john locke on government
Usually: argument (4) · exhortation (2) · betrayal (1) · the fall of the great (1) · censure (1) · curiosity (1) · detachment (1)
“The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.” Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; James Madison, The Federalist Papers · insight
Hamilton says Congress’s one-body design is improper, the Confederation lacked popular ratification, and true legitimacy must rest on the people’s consent, not state legislatures’ delegated authority.
of preconceived opinions, that it is a system so radically vicious and unsound, as to admit not of amendment but by an entire change in its leading features and characters. The organization of Congress is itself utterly improper for the exercise of those powers which are necessary to be deposited in the Union. A single assembly may be a proper receptacle of those slender, or rather fettered, authorities, which have …
He says Congress’s structure is improper without popular ratification, arguing the Union must rest on the people’s consent rather than state legislatures, because otherwise states may claim power to revoke the compact.
of preconceived opinions, that it is a system so radically vicious and unsound, as to admit not of amendment but by an entire change in its leading features and characters. The organization of Congress is itself utterly improper for the exercise of those powers which are necessary to be deposited in the Union. A single assembly may be a proper receptacle of those slender, or rather fettered, authorities, which have …
Delegates debate how new constitutional changes may be made: one argues the people’s consent and legitimacy are essential, while others reply that state legislatures and unanimous concurrence under the Confederation logic do not fully control the question.
As to the 1^{st} point, he observed that a new sett of ideas seemed to have crept in since the articles of Confederation were established. Conventions of the people, or with power derived expressly from the people, were not then thought of. The Legislatures were considered as competent. Their ratification has been acquiesced in without complaint. To whom have Cong^s applied on subsequent occasions for further powers?…
Adams explains why he prefers Locke to other authorities for answering accusations of sedition or leveling, invoking Locke’s aims around restoring King William and arguing Locke’s church role made his work less controversial.
[Here follow quotations from Locke on government, Part II. Ch. IV. Id. Ch. XI. Id. Ch. XIV. B. I. Ch. II. and B. II. Ch. II.] "This other original Mr. Locke has demonstrated to be the consent of a free people. It is possible there are a few; and I desire to thank God there is no reason to think there are many among us, that cannot bear the names of liberty and property, much less, that the things signified by those …