The Constitution attacks the rights of the people. In a speech, given by Patrick Henry, to the Virginia Ratification Congress on June, 7 1788, Patrick Henry strongly opposes the ratification of the new constitution. He considers the constitution to be an attack on liberty, because it strengthens the national, or central, government. Henry fears that the government, especially the President, will turn tyrannical, and become a dictatorship because of its absolute powers specifically, the power to maintain a standing army, to directly tax the people, to control the judicial system and to control military. Henry’s flaws with the proposed constitution, namely the maintenance of standing army, direct taxation, and the power of the Executive Branch
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Henry claims that “[he] will never give up the power of direct taxation” because it adds weight and power to the central government’s wishes. Direct taxation was also used by the British against the colonists in the build up to the Revolutionary War. In the 1765, the British government implemented the Stamp Act, which unfairly and harshly taxed all paper goods. This tax subsequently led to angry colonists, who felt that Parliament (the British central government) was too removed from the life of the people and thus, had no basis to tax the colonists in such a manner. Henry fears direct taxation because he believes that allowing it will result in a more powerful and independent (from the states and thus, the populous) central government. Henry also fears that the central government will pass and enforce taxes that are overly harsh on the people, as the “independent” Parliament did over the colonies. This separation of the legislature and the people, Henry implies, will lead to a system where the federal government can “take away from us [the people] all privileges till we comply with federal requisitions.” Thus, allowing direct taxation would give the central government the right to enforce their will, which, for the British at least, resulted in violating the rights of the
Henry claims that “[he] will never give up the power of direct taxation” because it adds weight and power to the central government’s wishes. Direct taxation was also used by the British against the colonists in the build up to the Revolutionary War. In the 1765, the British government implemented the Stamp Act, which unfairly and harshly taxed all paper goods. This tax subsequently led to angry colonists, who felt that Parliament (the British central government) was too removed from the life of the people and thus, had no basis to tax the colonists in such a manner. Henry fears direct taxation because he believes that allowing it will result in a more powerful and independent (from the states and thus, the populous) central government. Henry also fears that the central government will pass and enforce taxes that are overly harsh on the people, as the “independent” Parliament did over the colonies. This separation of the legislature and the people, Henry implies, will lead to a system where the federal government can “take away from us [the people] all privileges till we comply with federal requisitions.” Thus, allowing direct taxation would give the central government the right to enforce their will, which, for the British at least, resulted in violating the rights of the