ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the circumstances of Madison's use of his main Federalist argument suggest that he consciously deployed political theories to extract their rhetorical usefulness. A broad sketch of Madison's apparently contradictory career will also provide evidence in favor of this contention. Madison's enemies have always explained his contradictory words and deeds by saying that they resulted from his defective character and second-rate political abilities. Madison's contributions to the improved "science of politics" announced by Hamilton in Federalist 9 concerned both the character of modern society and the institutions of enlightened government. However, Madison's arguments in the Federalist Papers depend finally more on his social analysis than on his institutional observations. It is possible to defend Madison's project by assuming that a sharp distinction could be maintained between powers concerning matters of interest to the whole nation and powers concerning local policy.
