Michael H. Taylor

James Wilson: the State House Yard Speech: October 6, 1787 Michael H. Taylor

What was the contribution of James Wilson of Pennsylvania to the successful ratification of the U. S. Constitution? Specifically, what impact did his speech given in the Pennsylvania State House Yard on October 6, 1787, have? For many Americans, it was the arguments put forth by Wilson in the State House Yard Speech that framed the Federalist rationale for ratification. The impact of Wilson?s speech can be seen in the large number of essays that Anti-Federalists drafted to challenge his version of the Constitution. The top four issues comprising the core of the Anti-Federalist attack against Wilson were his: (1) stance against including a bill of rights in the Constitution; (2) support for a standing army; (3) explanation for not providing an explicit protection for the freedom of the press; and (4) the composition and powers of the United States Senate. James Wilson would have agreed with James Madison?s desire to bring the Anti-Federalists and other opponents of the Constitution into the American polity as co-Founders. The ultimate goal was always to establish a strong, independent federal government and on that point, Wilson and his colleagues were successful.