James Madison on the ‘Divine Ideal’ in Republicanism

Federalist Papers No. 55

James Madison, lead drafter of the Constitution stated once, that Republicanism admits the existence of qualities in man in a higher degree, and is thus built on a spiritual Ideal of man’s nature. We recognize James Madison as a man who rejected the notion of racial superiority, although he failed to put Republicanism fully in practice concerning slavery, in contradiction with his beliefs on equality and liberty. Upon his death, James Madison failed to free his slaves on his Virginian plantation, upon which his livelihood, and family fortunes were based. In life, Madison proposed that Congress purchase all the slaves and liberate them, insisting that the enslaved population were entitled to a right to liberty, and that slavery was morally wrong.

By “Divine Ideal” is meant far more than the Christian of our times have conceived. This Ideal is rooted in the dreams of the ancient philosophers:

“As there is a degree of depravity in mankind which requires a certain degree of circumspection and distrust: So there are other qualities in human nature, which justify a certain portion of esteem and confidence. Republican government (that of a Republic) presupposes the existence of these qualities in a higher degree than any other form. Were the pictures which have been drawn by the political jealousy of some among us, faithful likenesses of the human character, the inference would be that there is not sufficient virtue among men for self government; and that nothing less than the chains of despotism can restrain them from destroying and devouring one another.”

James Madison, Federalist Papers, no. 55, Fed. 13., 1788