Pol Assignment 5

Assignment (Due 10/22): Choose one passage from Madison and one from Hamilton and write out the passage and interpret it, follow the same format as previous assignments. 

Federalist Paper #52 by James Madison

A representative of the United States must be of the age of twenty-five years; must have been seven years a citizen of the United States; must, at the time of his election, be an inhabitant of the State he is to represent; and, during the time of his service, must be in no office under the United States. Under these reasonable limitations, the door of this part of the federal government is open to merit of every description, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession of religious faith.

Federalist Paper #8 by Alexander Hamilton

War between the States, in the first period of their separate existence, would be accompanied with much greater distresses than it commonly is in those countries where regular military establishments have long obtained. The disciplined armies always kept on foot on the continent of Europe, though they bear a malignant aspect to liberty and economy, have, notwithstanding, been productive of the signal advantage of rendering sudden conquests impracticable, and of preventing that rapid desolation which used to mark the progress of war prior to their introduction. The art of fortification has contributed to the same ends. The nations of Europe are encircled with chains of fortified places, which mutually obstruct invasion. Campaigns are wasted in reducing two or three frontier garrisons, to gain admittance into an enemy’s country. Similar impediments occur at every step, to exhaust the strength and delay the progress of an invader. Formerly, an invading army would penetrate into the heart of a neighboring country almost as soon as intelligence of its approach could be received; but now a comparatively small force of disciplined troops, acting on the defensive, with the aid of posts, is able to impede, and finally to frustrate, the enterprises of one much more considerable. The history of war, in that quarter of the globe, is no longer a history of nations subdued and empires overturned, but of towns taken and retaken; of battles that decide nothing; of retreats more beneficial than victories; of much effort and little acquisition.

The First Article I Chose is Article 52 written by James Madison in regards to the house of representatives. It talks about the requirements needed to be member of the house. some of those requirements are to be of certain age. To live in the state you wish to represent. you must also not already be in some type of government office as well as have been a citizen for a certain number of years. As long as the requirements are met nothing else matters in joining. no matter how young or old. No matter what type of background or experience, anyone fitting the requirements can try for the house.

The Second Article I chose was article 8 written by Alexander Hamilton in regards to consequences of war between states. I think from what I gather is that Hamilton is saying war between states would be pointless. Its not like a war between countries that allow people to prepare invade and to prepare to defend. A war between states would not allow for such tine ad before people could invade the people on the defend would already be ready for it. Not only that but when you go to war with other countries leaves the damage and remains wherever the war was fought. If you bring war between two neighboring states both would likely suffer damage and then when war would end you would stull be neighbors. There would be little benefit on war between states.