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Samuel Bryan on Anarchy

“A state of anarchy from its very nature can never be of long continuance; the greater its violence the shorter the duration.

Order and security are immediately sought by the distracted people beneath the shelter of equal laws and the salutary restraints of regular government; and if this be not attainable, absolute power is assumed by the one, or a few, who shall be the most enterprising and successful.”

– Samuel Bryan (Centinel), Anti-Federalist No. 6, “The Hobgoblins of Anarchy and Dissentions Among the States,” Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, January 16, 1788

Samuel Bryan on Opinions of Great Men

“[W]hen I view among such converts men otherwise preeminent it raises a blush for the weakness of humanity that these, her brightest ornaments, should be so dim-sighted to what is self-evident to most men, that such imbecility of judgment should appear where so much perfection was looked for.

This ought to teach us to depend more on our own judgment and the nature of the case than upon the opinions of the greatest and best of men, who, from constitutional infirmities or particular situations, may sometimes view an object through a delusive medium; but the opinions of great men are more frequently the dictates of ambition or private interest.”

– Samuel Bryan (Centinel), Anti-Federalist No. 6, “The Hobgoblins of Anarchy and Dissentions Among the States,” Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, January 16, 1788

Samuel Bryan on Apprehensions of Anarchy

“The source of the apprehensions of this so much dreaded anarchy would upon investigation be found to arise from the artful suggestions of designing men, and not from a rational probability grounded on the actual state of affairs.

The least reflection is sufficient to detect the fallacy to show that there is no one circumstance to justify the prediction of such an event.

On the contrary a short time will evince, to the utter dismay and confusion of the conspirators, that a perseverance in cramming down their scheme of power upon the freemen of this State [Pennsylvania] will inevitably produce an anarchy destructive of their darling domination, and may kindle a flame prejudicial to their safety.

They should be cautious not to trespass too far on the forbearance of freemen when wresting their dearest concerns, but prudently retreat from the gathering storm.”

– Samuel Bryan (Centinel), Anti-Federalist No. 6, “The Hobgoblins of Anarchy and Dissentions Among the States,” Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, January 16, 1788

Samuel Bryan on the Gloom of Despotism

“As passing clouds obscure for a time the splendor of the sun, so do wars interrupt the welfare of mankind; but despotism is a settled gloom that totally extinguishes happiness.

Not a ray of comfort can penetrate to cheer the dejected mind; the goad of power with unabating rigor insists upon the utmost exaction; like a merciless taskmaster, [it] is continually inflicting the lash, and is never satiated with the feast of unfeeling domination, or the most abject servility.”

– Samuel Bryan (Centinel), Anti-Federalist No. 6, “The Hobgoblins of Anarchy and Dissentions Among the States,” Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, January 16, 1788

Samuel Bryan on the Folly of Civil War

“I congratulate my fellow citizens that our circumstances are so favorable, that nothing but the folly of the conspirators can produce anarchy or civil war, which would presently terminate in their destruction and the permanent harmony of the state, alone interrupted by their ambitious machinations.”

– Samuel Bryan (Centinel), Anti-Federalist No. 6, “The Hobgoblins of Anarchy and Dissentions Among the States,” Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer, January 16, 1788