Page:The Federalist (Ford).djvu/29

Rh the true principles of republican government are unfolded with such precision." This was echoed in 1830 by one of our ablest jurists, who declared "There is no work on the subject of the constitution, and on republican and federal government generally, that deserves to be more thoroughly studied. . . I know not indeed of any work on the principles of free government that is to be compared, in instruction, and intrinsic value, to this small and unpretending volume of The Federalist, not even if we resort to Aristotle, Cicero, Machiavel, Montesquieu, Milton, Locke, or Burke. It is equally admirable in the depth of its wisdom, the comprehensiveness of its views, the sagacity of its reflections, and the fearlessness, patriotism, candor, simplicity, and elegance with which its truths are uttered and recommended." More recently the historian of the Supreme Court, after stating that The Federalist "has been seriously and reverently called the Bible of Republicanism," added "that for comprehensiveness of design, strength, clearness, and simplicity, the book has no parallel among the writings of men, not even excepting or overlooking those of Montesquieu and Aristotle."

As certain defects in The Federalist resulted from its being written by three men, so this circumstance in time produced a controversy as to the exact share two of its authors had borne in the undertaking. The question has been needlessly complicated by the use of much material which had really no bearing on it, or which was valueless as evidence. Discarding all this, the dispute is reduced to the problem: did Hamilton, or Madison, write Nos. 49 to 58 and Nos. 62 and 63?

That either man should actually believe that he wrote