Clerk Samuel Bryan, of the Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, using the penname “Centinel” publishes an anti-federalist essay attacking the pro-ratification speech of James Wilson, warning in paragraphs 12, 14 and 33 of the destruction of the State governments:
… [T]he omnipotence of the federal legislature over the State establishments is recognized by a special article, viz. that “this Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any thing in the Constitutions or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.” …
· · · · · · ·
Such a body as the intended Congress, unless particularly inhibited and restrained, must grasp at omnipotence, and before long swallow up the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial powers of the several States.
· · · · · · ·
Does history abound with examples of a voluntary relinquishment of power, however injurious to the community? No; it would require a general and successful rising of the people to effect any thing [sic] of this nature.’
[restored 7/18/2026]
Subsequent Events:
Authority:
Articles of Confederation, Article XIII
ccc-2point0.com/Articles-of-Confederation/#afcXIII
References:
“Centinel XII,” from The Debate on the Constitution, two volumes, Bernard Bailyn, ed., (New York: Library of America, 1992), 1:77-91.
Current U.s. National Debt:
