Jose Nino has a good article about several southern Anti-Federalists who were among those during the Founding and the early days of the Republic who warned about the Constitution leaving open a pathway for those who would increase the power and size of the federal government at the expense of the states.
He discusses Patrick Henry, George Mason, South Carolina’s Rawlins Lowndes and one person from North Carolina:
The Anti-Federalist current ran just as strongly through North Carolina, where it found a leader of comparable resolve. Willie Jones led the Anti-Federalist faction at the 1788 North Carolina ratifying convention at Hillsborough, where he successfully refused ratification without a prior Bill of Rights. He criticized the Constitution as “an instrument of centralization and an encroachment of community rule.” Jones argued that only the states, not the federal government, should hold the power to tax and control elections.
Of course, these men were absolutely right. Isn’t it strange how we never hear about Willie Jones here in North Carolina and his concerns about a large, centralized government?
These are stories that are never told. I wonder why.
It, as you say TC, is indeed puzzling.
There is a systematic effort to “black hole” certain elements of history, Fred.
It is an excellent highlighting the heroic and prescient men, who were actually anti-nationalists rather than “anti-federalists”. The nationalists weren’t honest enough to label themselves what they were; they cleverly adopted the dishonest label of Federalists, when it was their opponents who wanted a FEDERATION of autonomous states.
It is unfortunate that many anti-nationalists like Willie [pronounced Wiley] Jones declined appointments to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia because they understood and disapproved of the motive. They could have contributed to a better, more libertarian Constitution. Nor did they initially have any involvement in the Federal government, so that the Bill of Rights flowed from Madison and neglected “anti-federalist” elements such as 2/3 majority to declare war (which would have prevented the stupid War of 1812) and 2/3 majority to regulate commerce (which would have avoided the Tariff of Abominations and possibly Lincoln’s War) and limitations on a standing army.
Willie Jones is a fascinating character, by all indications a Deist and a friend of Jefferson and Nathaniel Macon. One of his daughters married the widower of one of Jefferson’s daughters. The street the General Assembly is on is named for him. He was about as important to the founding of UNC as Wm. R. Davie.
Wow, that’s a treasure trove of information about Jones, J. Sobran. Thanks…
Willie Jones and Davie were among the original trustees of UNC. They hired a dancing instructor, because they wanted the students to be gentlemen. But they forebade the students to have theater or put on plays, because they didn’t want them to be “players.” The 1790s was a different time.
Triad, I wrote a racy novel set in NC the 1790s. The Secrets of Sterling Shearin: The Noblest Cause. https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Sterling-Shearin-Noblest-Cause/dp/1481060759
I spent a couple of decades emersed in the 1785-1805 time period researching it. It tells the story of the country from 1787-1801 through the eyes of a young farmer who is a neighbor of Nathaniel Macon–with some sex, romance, horse racing and mystery to leaven the unusually accurate history. Willie Jones is in it.
That’s amazing, J. Sobran. Really special that you know so much about that portion of NC history. I had no idea these aspects of UNC’s earliest days.