Philadelphiensis was the pseudonym used by an anonymous Anti-Federalist writer during the U.S. Constitution ratification debates. The authorship is often attributed to Benjamin Workman, an Irish immigrant and mathematics instructor at the University of Pennsylvania.
Philadelphiensis’s essays were aggressive attacks on the Constitution that appeared in Philadelphia newspapers during the ratification debates. He contended that adoption of the Constitution would be equivalent to a coup by the wealthy few against democracy and warned that the new system would establish an aristocratic tyranny that would enslave the American people under corrupt elite rule.
Condemns Constitution supporters for attempting to suppress press freedom by demanding writers reveal their names, arguing this censorship reveals the tyrannical nature of the proposed government.
Warns that adopting the Constitution will transform Americans from freemen to slaves, threatening religious liberty and creating despotism worse than British tyranny.
Warns that the Constitution will destroy America’s national character by creating a weak government dependent on foreign mercenaries and unable to build a navy while oppressing citizens with standing armies.
Denounces Pennsylvania’s convention for rejecting citizen petitions against the Constitution, arguing this arrogance reveals the tyrannical nature of the proposed government and its wealthy supporters.
Argues that America’s strength depends on freedom, warning that the Constitution will destroy liberty and make the nation weak, contradicting claims it will distress Britain since despotic governments cannot create true national power.
Contends that neutrality requires naval power for protection, warning that the Constitution’s government will exhaust resources on standing armies to suppress opposition, leaving no funds for the navy America needs.
Celebrates press freedom as the “palladium” of all rights, condemning attempts by Constitution supporters to suppress opposition writers through intimidation tactics while warning that patriotic opponents will resist tyranny.
Warns that the Constitution will establish martial law and transform free citizens into subjects under a military king, condemning the proposed government as a monarchy-aristocracy conspiracy that threatens all liberties.
Accuses federal convention members of fraud and treason for creating a system that punishes Pennsylvania’s fiscal responsibility, warning that the proposed government will impose crushing uniform taxes while stripping away all remnants of liberty through executive tyranny.
Defends his essays as necessary warnings against tyranny, challenging critics to refute his proof that the President would be an absolute monarch more dangerous than any in history, and calls for another convention to prevent civil war.
