Madison responds to the claim that the constitutional convention was authorized to frame and propose an entirely new form of government. Anti-Federalists charged that the convention had been formed to merely amend the Articles, not throw them out entirely in favor of the proposed constitution. Madison argues that Congress had clearly authorized the convention to form a “a national and adequate government.” Although it had only been explicitly instructed to accomplish this through “alterations and provisions in the articles of confederation,” Madison argues that “alterations and provisions” alone would not be sufficient to achieve a “national and adequate government.” Therefore, the convention rightly decided that it was more important
