Letter to the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer (May 9, 1788)

The present controversy, says a correspondent, respecting the new leviathan or proposed constitution for the United States, has exhibited the talents of the Americans in a most exalted point of view. Never did any subject produce a greater display of ingenuity, knowledge, wit, and powerful eloquence. The writings under the signatures of Centinel, Philadelphiensis, Brutus, a Countryman, and Farmer, are full of political wisdom—The information of Mr. Martin, and the dissent of the minority of Pennsylvania, contain a complete system of republican government. To these performances nothing has been opposed but the sophistry of Mr. Wilson, the low similies of Mr. M'Kean, such as—"if the sky should fall, we should catch larks, and if the rivers should run mud, we should catch eels"—the dry trash of Publius in 150 numbers—the divine allegories of Galen, the triffling railleries of the little Admiralty Judge, impudent assertions and calumnies against those who have had resolution and independency of spirit to animadvert on the new constitution, and on the conduct of its framers—Extracts of letters from Maryland, Virginia, Boston, &c. composed in Philadelphia—ribaldry—scurrility—seditious falsehoods—or, to use a word which includes them all, and every thing else that is infamous, base and wicked—nothing but Rushisms.