The first public copy of the newly minted document was printed
September 19. Copies were submitted on September 28 to the
individual states for review. To drum up support, Madison and two
others combined forces to promote ratification. They were Alexander
Hamilton, a delegate for the Constitutional Convention from New
York who later became the first United States Secretary of the
Treasury, and John Jay, the nation’s first Chief Justice.
On October 27, Madison, Hamilton, and Jay released Federalist No.
1 – published anonymously under the name Publius. It was to be
the first of what would become 85 pro-ratification essays. It’s worth
noting that the word “arms” appears more than two dozen times in
what was ultimately referred to as “The Federalist Papers.” Here is an
example from Federalist No. 46, written by Madison:
“Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans
possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence
of subordinate governments to which the people are attached, and
by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against
the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a
simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the
military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are
carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are
afraid to trust the people with arms.”
Hamilton had this to say in Federalist, No. 29:
“If circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form
an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the
liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little if at
all inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready
to defend their rights and those of their fellow citizens.”
It should be noted that the word “hunt” does not appear in the
Federalist Papers, and in Federalist 2, Jay puts the right to bear arms
in the context of the recent Revolution and not a hunting trip:
“Who, by their joint counsels, arms, and efforts, fighting side by side
throughout a long and bloody war, have nobly established general
liberty and independence.
Despite the efforts of their writing campaign, reaction to the
Constitution was mixed, dividing the nation into two main camps:
Federalists and Anti-Federalists, the former – generally from the
merchant and plantation-owning class and were in favor of the
Constitution with its strong federal government while the latter
(primarily farmers and tradesmen) were against such centralized
power and authority.
At no point during discussion or debate did one side or the
other take a position proposing gun control, registration, and/or
confiscation. Both sides were for freedom; both sides were for the
right to bear arms.
Patrick Henry of Virginia, who was coined for saying he “Give
me liberty or give me death!" was an ardent and outspoken Anti-
Federalist who publicly opposed the new Constitution. His intent
was clear: “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect
everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will
preserve it but downright force.”
38 The TRUMP RALLY Publication