The Nature of Faction (The State of Nature)

1. The Nature of Faction (The State of Nature)

Studying James Madison‘s political philosophy means studying his Federalist Paper no. 10 because he poured out his thoughts and ideas during the Constitutional era to the paper. Kramer (1999)‘s study found that Federalist Paper no. 10 is the most

cited, anthologized, and taught paper. This paper relates to Constitutional defense since it features James Madison‘s prophecies and his philosophical presentation about

the fittest form of national government, the extended republican government. Among other series of Federalist Papers, the Paper no. 10 stands out since it advocates the republican system of government which is based on equal representation, a form of government which contrasts United States to earlier governmental systems of Greece‘s, or France‘s democracy, and it is elaborated well by Madison himself in this

paper. Eventually, Federalist Paper no. 10 supported the Federalist Papers as a whole for Madison‘s accuracy in portraying the national condition and suggesting the

importance of US Constitution.

starts its discussion by mentioning the important role of a nation in controlling the violence of faction. Faction holds an important role in the growth of a nation; its growth determines national stability. Since faction represents people‘s interests, it is possible in dividing the nation based on groups of people with varied interests. Before the Constitution was ratified, US national stability was at stake because people were grouped based on their own interests: one group-based interest clashed with another, and this condition was exacerbated by limp central government which did not operate well because of its dependence to the states.

Federalist Paper no. 10 elaborates the foundation of a well-established nation which is based on people‘s power. What is meant by people‘s power in here is the power mandated from the people to the ruling government. Historically, the US government started its political system with direct democracy and eventually came with republican system that had been suggested by Madison through his Federalist Paper no. 10. As a democratic nation, United States in pre-Constitutional era could not neglect the emergence of factions. It appeared as people expressed their personal interests, which possibly triggered by trivia issues, or national-scaled issues such as slavery system or political activities. In seeing faction, James Madison defined it as

―a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of

the community. ‖ (Federalist Paper no. 10). The definition of faction from Federalist the community. ‖ (Federalist Paper no. 10). The definition of faction from Federalist

James Madison stated his expectation of a well-constructed Union through the opening paragraph of the Federalist Paper no. 10, and analyzing the current state of the nation under the possible threat faction might cause.

AMONG the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. The friend of popular governments never finds himself so much alarmed for their character and fate, as when he contemplates their propensity to this dangerous vice. He will not fail, therefore, to set a due value, on any plan which, without violating the principles to which he is attached, provides a proper cure for it. (Federalist Paper no. 10 par.1)

These first opening sentences of Federalist Paper no. 10 might be a tad confusing. People could possibly assume that Madison suggested anti-faction sentiment by mentioning the word ―the violence of faction‖ and its ―propensity to the dangerous vice‖ in the beginning. But in fact, through this opening paragraph of the

paper, James Madison simply tries to portray the possibility of a faction to break and control the young nation since it is always given freedom to spread, as long as people are free to express their self-interests. Due to the plenty access of freedom, there should be an established authority to control the existence of faction. That is why Madison mentioned earlier in the first sentence of the paragraph,

Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. (Madison, Federalist Paper no. 10) Among the numerous advantages promised by a well-constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction. (Madison, Federalist Paper no. 10)

It has always become government‘s responsibility to hold secure government without forgetting its other main task which is guarante eing people‘s rights and

safety. ―Their propensity to this dangerous vice‖ refers to factions‘ tendency in breaking one unity into smaller groups based on people‘s different interests. However

clear Madison tried to express his argument in the opening of his Paper no. 10, readers would assume that all factions are dangerous, even though Madison actually does not try to induce such thought.

Madison proposed the ratification of Constitution to the people of New York, so that central government will have more power and less dependent from 13 states. The formation of good and strong central government is necessary so it can control states member as well as the spread of faction in the United States. Here Madison tried to use faction to nourish people‘s freedom of expression and to avoid

majoritarian system of government.

James Madison opened Federalist Paper no. 10 by stating his expectation that one of the benefits of the well-constructed Union is that it is capable in controlling the damage that factions might cause. This expectation however remained James Madison opened Federalist Paper no. 10 by stating his expectation that one of the benefits of the well-constructed Union is that it is capable in controlling the damage that factions might cause. This expectation however remained

The valuable improvements made by the American constitutions on the popular models, both ancient and modern, cannot certainly be too much admired; but it would be an unwarrantable partiality, to contend that they have as effectually obviated the danger on this side, as was wished and expected. Complaints are everywhere heard from our most considerate and virtuous citizens, equally the friends of public and private faith, and of public and personal liberty, that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and overbearing majority.(Federalist Paper no. 10)

The Articles of Confederation could not serve the nation's need in establishing good governance. It provided too much freedom for states member, and weakened the central government at the same time. This resulted in central government's inability in handling internal political affairs in the first place so the nation could set itself as independent nation. Public's needs were often ignored, laws worked based on what major people have decided so it did not work based on people's account.

The Articles of Confederations itself has weakness which crippled the work of the central government. In Madison's mind, what was being called as the weakness here was the inability of the central government to control the states and their conflicts. Public good was often decided by the winning factions and majorities.

The superior power of the majority could be seen on the Articles:

no separation of powers. There was neither executive branch to enforce the laws, nor national court (judicial branch) to interpret the laws. Congress was the only body served as the national government, yet it had no power in forcing the states to support its decisions. Also, even though the states were united under the name of ―United States of America‖, they formed a league of friendship in which they had the rights to retain their sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction. To put it simply, each state took care of its own business, while the Congress only acted to glue the friendship bond among the states and not more than that. With Congress limited act and was contained by one chamber only, issues with major votes won without meaningful opposition from minor interests. There was no explicit body to counteract the ambition made by major voices in the Congress; no executive government to pilot the government, no judicial body to interpret laws.

(ii) For any major laws to pass they had to be approved by 9 or the 13 states which proved difficult to do so that even the normal business of running a government was difficult. It was continuously mentioned in Article IX, X, XI. ―…unless nine States assent to the same: nor shall a question on any other point,

except for adjourning from day to day be determined, unless by the votes of the majority of the united States in congress assembled. ‖ (US Articles of Confederation, under ―Rights Granted by Federal Government‖ section). The nine states-requirement

rule was stated again in next two sections. This point in the Articles proves the superiority of the majority , where the minor states‘ aspirations were ignored.

and US‘ financial crisis lead the nation‘s founding fathers to initiate the Constitutional Convention. The Convention set off the debate between The Federalist

and the Anti-Federalist which had become the first rival factions, debating if they sh ould insert people‘s rights‘ list on the Constitution of United States, which was discussed more on the previous chapter of literary review. There was also slavery issue which triggered Civil War, dividing US into North and South. Factional disputes, have existed since the Federalist era in which Madison defended the Constitution as the first written constitution in force. Madison had been alarmed by faction‘s possibility in giving dangerous threat. What James Madison tried to prove

on his Federalist Paper no. 10 is: instead of disapproving factional existence or ignore it, we should take it for granted —and turned to the support of liberty and of republican government.

James Madison previously had alarmed the readers of this Paper by stating the possible threat caused by faction. As matter of fact, this condition was created by the way American society grew the anti-party or anti-faction sentiment in the first place. Central government‘s inability in guaranteeing people‘s welfare, worsen by the rival

states, causing people to hate factions. Economic crisis was enough in shaking political foundation which was ruined at first by the weak central government. In dealing with this situation, James Madison ‗prescribed‘ some ways in overcoming the

crisis.

removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects. There are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by

destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests. (Federalist Paper no. 10 par.4)

Madison‘s first prescription in handling the damage of faction is to remove the cause of faction‘s existence. People‘s fear of faction and their assumptions that faction is a mere threat drove Madison to prescribe the first method. It is possible to remove the cause of faction existence, if the government along with the people desired so. There was no rule control ling faction‘s existence, the young nation was in chaos, people were threatened by each other‘s freedom of expression, and most importantly, there was no law that regulate d government‘s specific task to enforce law and order. By Madison mentioning ‗to remove the cause of faction‘s existence‘ does not mean he blatantly endorsed the law to support this point. Madison

mentioned this point of removing the cause of faction‘s existence in Federalist Paper no. 10 as one of the possible yet impractical ways in dealing with factions.

Madison later on broke down his first method and its ways to achieve it: (1) Destroying liberty. And (2) Giving every citizen same opinions, same passions, and

same interests. Madison‘s option in removing the cause of faction is impractical. Destroying liberty will be impossible since people always demand its presence. The experience of being colonized by British government left traumatic experience over US citizens. As a result, people demand more liberty in accessing their rights. Under the Articles of Confederations, young United States set themselves with democratic same interests. Madison‘s option in removing the cause of faction is impractical. Destroying liberty will be impossible since people always demand its presence. The experience of being colonized by British government left traumatic experience over US citizens. As a result, people demand more liberty in accessing their rights. Under the Articles of Confederations, young United States set themselves with democratic

Furthermore, James Madison elaborated why the first method in curing the mischief of faction is impractical. He connected his thoughts of this to the nature of man and how it is naturally shaped through society.

As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former will be objects to which the latter will attach themselves. The diversity in the faculties of men, from which the rights of property originate, is not less an insuperable obstacle to a uniformity of interests. (Federalist Paper no. 10 par.6)

As mortal creatures, men do have different opinions and they continue forming their own ideas until the day they age. As long as men hold different opinions, have different amount of wealth, and own different amount of property, they will continue to mingle with people who are most similar to them. Both serious and trivial reasons account for the formation of factions. Therefore Madison‘s first method in curing the mischief of faction is not valid in the first place. Removing the cause of faction‘s existence requires two ways: destroying people‘s liberty and the act of uniforming people‘s interests, passions, opinions. Both ways are impractical; as

people keep evolving as more sophisticated creature. They need and will continue to form ideas of their own, opinions, in which eventually attach themselves into

different interests. In summation, there is no way in uniforming people‘s interests.

existence, Madison linked it to Locke‘s idea on the nature of man, as shown in Federalist Paper no. 10:

The latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co- operate for their common good. (Federalist Paper no. 10)

However evil it may be, based-on-interest factions are inevitable since people will always carry their self interests and it will automatically be nurtured by society where they live. Formally or informally, people have the tendency to form groups based on their self-interests, as one of their freedom of expressions. Ranged from trivial issues to very serious ones, from issues concerning religions to governmental

issues, people‘s loyalty to certain political leaders of government may start the formation of varied factions. These attachments to different interests, in turn, divide people and possibly violating one another ‘s rights. This condition threatened national stability in two ways: first it is possible in dividing or breaking people ‘s unity and let

people‘s interests clash which dangers their unity even more. Naturally, people tend to protect themselves in the first place rather than sacrificing their interests for

common good. First method of removing faction existence fails, so does the second method. Giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same

interests is impossible. This means, uniforming people‘s different characteristics, by interests is impossible. This means, uniforming people‘s different characteristics, by