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Defending the Constitution
and manner of holding elections [Article I, Section 4] . . . will place in the
hands of the general government the authority whenever they shall be
disposed, and a favorable opportunity offers, to deprive the body of the
people, in effect, of all share in the government.’’
Republicanism also meant rule by the majority. But the Constitution,
insisted the Anti-Federalists, seemed to encourage government by minority factions and wealthy aristocrats. There would be too few members
in the House of Representatives (only one for every 30,000 persons), and
a mere handful of Senators—as few as eighteen if only nine States joined
the Union—would be able to block legislation desired by a majority of
the people. ‘‘Far from being a regular balanced government,’’ complained
‘‘Centinel,’’ a Pennsylvania Anti-Federalist, ‘‘it would be in practice a permanent aristocracy.’’ Patrick Henry of Virginia echoed these sentiments,
contending that the two-thirds requirement for proposing amendments
and the three-fourths requirement for their adoption allowed entren