James Wilsons' Notes of the Pennsylvania Ratification Convention (December 11, 1787)

JAMES WILSON: 2d List of Objections.1 The trial by jury was intended to be given up; and the civil law introduced in civil cases (No. 171, 172, 173, 180, 185, 186, 187, 194, 193, 198, 199, 201, 209, 203-207, 210, 212, 215, 227, 229, 231, 232, 233, 234, 236, 237, 239, 240). The appellate jurisdiction as to facts improper; appeals are unknown to the common law (No. 179, 188, 200, 202, 208, 209, 230).

The expense of the general government and of the state governments will be too great (No. 183).

Standing armies should not be among the powers given to Congress1 (No. 113, 123, 149). Nor should the command of the militia2 (No. 113, 125-132, 136, 137).

This government is too far removed from the people. There is not sufficient responsibility in it (No. 58, 196). The Convention knew this was not a free government; otherwise they would not have asked the power of the purse and the sword (No. 124). This government is, and was intended to be an aristocracy (No. 34, 35, 38, 82, 115, 134, 148, 150, 151, 219).