Federalist No. 24
Federalist No. 24, authored by Alexander Hamilton under the pen name Publius, is the twenty fourth of 85 essays. Titled "The Powers Necessary to the Common Defense Further Considered", Hamilton writes about the topic of standing armies. At the time of the founding, the citizens considered a standing army as an appendage of tyranny, as standing armies had normally been used for that purpose. Hamilton explains that as the legislature are the elected representatives of the people, they have several powers over any standing army.
He argues that a military is necessary, that just because "a wide ocean" separates European powers from America that the colonies should engage "in considering ourselves as entirely out of the reach of danger." The only way to ensure peace is through strength.
It was published on December 19, 1787.
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