Federalist No. 24
Alexander Hamilton, author of Federalist No. 24
AuthorAlexander Hamilton
Original titleThe Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Federalist
PublisherThe Independent Journal
Publication date
December 19, 1787
Media typeNewspaper
Preceded byFederalist No. 23 
Followed byFederalist No. 25 

Federalist No. 24, titled "The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered", is a political essay written by Alexander Hamilton and the twenty-fourth of The Federalist Papers. It was first published in New York newspapers on December 19, 1787, under the pseudonym Publius, the name under which all The Federalist Papers were published. It is one of two essays by Hamilton arguing in favor of a national standing army during peacetime, along with Federalist No. 25.

Federalist No. 24 challenged those who wish to prohibit a standing army in peacetime, arguing that its formation is essential for the security of the nation while concerns about its existence are exaggerated. Hamilton explained that provisions against the creation of a standing army already did not exist under the law of the time, and he warned of potential threats that would necessitate a standing army. Federalist No. 24 was written at a time in which standing armies were viewed with skepticism, but such an army has come to be expected in the United States since Hamilton's time.

Summary

Hamilton challenges the idea that the proposed constitution should prohibit standing armies in peacetime. He says that it is merely an assertion that lacks an argument behind it. Speculating about the perspective of someone who heard the cries for this position without reading the constitution, he supposes that such a person would assume the constitution mandated a standing army or that the executive branch of the government would control levying of soldiers. He explains that neither premise is true: no such provision would require a standing army and levying of soldiers is a power granted to the legislature.

Continuing with his hypothetical newcomer to the debate, Hamilton suggests that this person would be surprised to find that only two state constitutions had such a provision and that the Articles of Confederation had none. He describes the surprise and frustration that this person would feel to learn that apprehensions surrounding a standing army in peacetime, as Hamilton describes it, are unfounded.

Hamilton moves on to explain why a standing army during peacetime is necessary. He warns of British and Spanish colonies as well as Native American tribes, and he suggests that the United States would be under threat from attacks by both land and sea. Hamilton describes already existing garrisons of soldiers who are stationed to prevent such attacks. He explains that these garrisons can be run by professional soldiers or by militias, and he expresses his preference for trained soldiers.

Background and publication

Federalist No. 24 was written by Alexander Hamilton. Like all of the Federalist Papers, it was published under the pseudonym Publius in New York newspapers to explain the provisions of the Constitution of the United States and persuade New York to ratify it.[1] It was first published in the Independent Journal, the Daily Advertiser, and the New-York Journal on December 19, 1787. It was then published in the New-York Packet on December 21.[2]

Analysis

Federalist No. 24 challenged the refrain that the constitution was flawed because it did not prohibit a standing army during peacetime.[3] During the 18th century, standing armies in peacetime were unpopular among proponents of civic republicanism, and they were often seen as a challenge to liberty, leading to a preference for militias to serve as soldiers only when necessary.[4][5] Hamilton argued that a standing army was necessary and that such a prohibition would be harmful.[3] He rejected the idea that a militia could perform as adequately as a standing army, and he also expressed concern that rotating militias would disrupt both industry and individual families.[6] American military leaders such as George Washington agreed that a standing army was necessary instead of a militia.[4]

Hamilton was skeptical that long term peace was plausible.[4] He noted that neither the Articles of Confederation nor most of the existing state constitutions had such a provision regarding standing armies. He also emphasized that a safeguard was provided in that the legislature rather than the executive would control the military's funding.[7] To demonstrate the need for a standing army, Hamilton pointed to the constant threats from adversaries that bordered the United States. He warned of Spanish colonies to the south, Native American tribes to the west, British colonies to the north, and the potential of naval attacks from the east.[8] Hamilton further warned against complacence in that European powers were far away, saying that advances in naval technology allowed distant nations to operate as if they were neighbors.[7] For these reasons, he advocated garrisons in the western frontier and along the eastern coast.[8]

Aftermath

Hamilton continued the same argument in Federalist No. 25.[3] A standing army in peacetime has since become a widely accepted concept in the United States, including both active duty soldiers and military reserve forces. In peacetime, the latter often double as humanitarian workers during natural disasters. In addition to domestic and coastal defense garrisons as described by Hamilton, American soldiers also make up garrisons in other countries around the world, and the separation of nations by oceans has become less relevant in military considerations.[4]

Federalist No. 24 has been cited in cases before the Supreme Court of the United States: Lewis F. Powell Jr. cited it in Selective Service System v. Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (1984) and Wayte v. United States (1985), and Antonin Scalia cited it in Harmelin v. Michigan (1991).[9]

References

  1. ↑ "Federalist Papers: Primary Documents in American History". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Federalist Essays in Historic Newspapers". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Scott, Kyle (2013). The Federalist Papers: A Reader's Guide. A&C Black. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-4411-0814-2.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Levinson, Sanford (November 24, 2015). An Argument Open to All: Reading "The Federalist" in the 21st Century. Yale University Press. pp. 89–91. ISBN 978-0-300-21645-5.
  5. ↑ Kramnick, Isaac (1988). "The "Great National Discussion": The Discourse of Politics in 1787". The William and Mary Quarterly. 45 (1): 8–9. doi:10.2307/1922212. ISSN 0043-5597. JSTOR 1922212.
  6. ↑ Epstein, David F. (2007). The Political Theory of The Federalist. University of Chicago Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-0-226-21301-9.
  7. 1 2 Millican, Edward (2014). One United People: The Federalist Papers and the National Idea. University Press of Kentucky. p. 97. ISBN 978-0-8131-6137-2.
  8. 1 2 Edling, Max M. (2020). "'A Vigorous National Government': Hamilton on Security, War, and Revenue". In Rakove, Jack N.; Sheehan, Colleen A. (eds.). The Cambridge Companion to the Federalist Papers. Cambridge University Press. pp. 100–101. ISBN 978-1-107-13639-7.
  9. ↑ Durchslag, Melvyn R. (2005). "The Supreme Court and the Federalist Papers: Is There Less Here Than Meets the Eye?". William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal. 14 (1): 336–337, 342.
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