Proofs of a Conspiracy

After the Constitutional Convention was called in May of 1787, many people were concerned. The Polish activist J. L. Neil Neil, herald of the Revolution, came out with a pamphlet criticizing the effort which was distributed through the streets of Philadelphia . . .


Proofs of a Conspiracy, by “Cato”

How can we account for our present situation unless we believe that men high in this Government are concerting to deliver us to disaster? This must be the product of a great conspiracy, a conspiracy on a scale so immense as to dwarf any previous such venture in the history of man. A conspiracy of infamy so black that, when it is finally exposed, its principals shall be forever deserving of the maledictions of all honest men.

What is the objective of this great conspiracy? I think it is clear from what has occurred and is now occurring: to diminish the United States in world affairs, to weaken us militarily, to confuse our spirit with talk of surrender in the Indian Territories and to impair our will to resist evil. To what end? To the end that we shall be contained, frustrated and finally: fall victim to English intrigue from within and English military might from without. Is that farfetched? There have been many examples in history of rich and powerful states which have been corrupted from within, enfeebled and deceived until they were unable to resist aggression. . . .

Who constitutes the highest circles of this conspiracy? About that we cannot be sure. We are convinced that Alexander Hamilton, who steadfastly serves the interests of nations other than his own, must be high on the roster. General Washington? He is their captive. I have wondered, as have you, why he did not dispense with so great a liability as Hamilton to his own and his party’s interests. It is now clear to me. In the relationship of master and man, did you ever hear of man firing master? Washington is a satisfactory front. He is only dimly aware of what is going on.

I do not believe that General Washington is a conscious party to the great conspiracy, although it is being conducted in his name. I believe that if General Washington had the ability to associate good Americans around him, be would have behaved as a good American in this most dire of all our crises. The time has come to halt this tepid, milk-and-water acquiescence which a discredited administration, ruled by disloyalty, sends down to us. The American may belong to an old culture, he may be beset by enemies here and abroad, he may be distracted by the many words of counsel that assail him by day and night, but he is nobody’s fool. The time has come for us to realize that the people who sent us here expect more than time-serving from us.

The American who has never known defeat in war, does not expect to be again sold down the river. He does not want that kind of betrayal. He has had betrayal enough. He has never failed to fight for his liberties since Josiah Winslow rode out against the Naragansett in 1675to put himself at the head of a band of colonists unversed in war. He is fighting tonight, fighting gloriously in a war on a distant American frontier made inglorious by the men he can no longer trust at the head of our affairs.

The America that I know, and that the Continental Congressmen know, this vast and teeming and beautiful land, this hopeful society where the poor share the table of the rich as never before in history, where men of all colors, of all faiths, are brothers as never before in history, where great deeds have been done and great deeds are yet to do, that America deserves to be led not to humiliation or defeat, but to victory.

The Continental Congress of the United States in Congress Assembled is the people’s last hope, a free and open forum of the people’s representatives. The people, no longer trusting their executive, turn to us, asking that we reassert the confederational prerogative of the Congress to declare the policy for the United States
 
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