The Effects of Limited or Absolute Government in Historical Context: Thoughts by Agrippa, November 23, 1787
If we examine the present state of the world we shall find that most of the business is done in the freest states, and that industry decreases in proportion to the rigor of government.
The Federalist writers often referenced the Greeks and Romans, so it's natural that the Anti-Federalist writers would draw their own lessons and conclusions from the same pool of history. In this excerpt, Agrippa highlights what classical history teaches about the effects of limited or absolute government on the citizenry.
August Glen-James, editor
In truth, the question before the people is, whether they will have a limited government or an absolute one?
It is a fact justified by the experience of all mankind from the earliest antiquity down to the present time, that freedom is necessary to industry. We accordingly find that in absolute governments, the people, be the climate what it may are in general lazy, cowardly, turbulent, and vicious to an extreme. On the other hand, in free countries are found in general, activity, industry, arts, courage, generosity, and all the manly virtues.
Can there be any doubt which to choose? He that hesitates must be base indeed.
A favorite objection against a free government is drawn from the irregularities of the Greek and Roman republicks. But it is to be considered that war was the employment which they considered as most becoming freemen. Agriculture, arts, and most domestick employment were committed chiefly to slaves. But Carthage, the great commercial republick of antiquity, though resembling Rome in the form of its government, and her rival for power, retained her freedom longer than Rome, and was never disturbed by sedition during the long period of her duration. This is striking proof that the fault of the Greek andRoman republicks was not owing to the form of their government, and that the spirit of commerce is the great bond of union among citizens. This furnishes employment for their activity, supplies their mutual wants, defends the rights of property, and producing reciprocal dependencies, renders the whole system harmonious and energetick.
Our great object therefore ought to be to encourage this spirit. If we examine the present state of the world we shall find that most of the business is done in the freest states, and that industry decreases in proportion to the rigor of government.