The Middling Classes. Thoughts by Anti-Federalist, Melancton Smith, on the topic of Representation and the Constitution of the United States

Representation was one of the hot-button issues of the Constitutional Convention. It continued hot in the arguments and essays about the proposed Constitution after it had been sent to the States. In general, the Anti-Federalists believed that representation, as provided for in the Constitution, was inadequate. This inadequacy was greatest for the middling classes of people who, they feared, would not be well represented. In fact, many Anti-Federalists agreed with "Sydney" that "the rights and liberties of a country were ever in danger from the rich and poor," and that the safety of said rights and liberties are safer in the hands of "the middle sort of yeomanry of the country."*

Anti-Federalist, Melancton Smith, had an interesting take on the "middling" classes of people who were, it was thought, safe depositories of a people's rights.

August Glen-James, editor

The same passions and prejudices govern all men. The circumstances in which men are placed in a great measure give a cast to the human character. Those in middling circumstances, have less temptation--they are inclined by habit and the company with whom they associate, to set bounds to their passions and appetites--if this is not sufficient, the want of means to gratify them will be a restraint--they are obliged to employ their time in their respective callings--hence the substantial yeomanry of the country are more temperate, of better morals, and less ambitious than the great. . . . When . . . this class in society pursue their own interest, they promote that of the public, for it is involved in it.

*As quoted in "What the Anti-Federalists Were For," by Herbert J. Storing. University of Chicago Press, 1981, Chicago and London, p. 18.