The Liberal Republicanism of John Taylor of Caroline

This book is the first comprehensive chronological study of the works of a significant but little-known figure in early American history. A confidant of Thomas Jefferson, John Taylor of Caroline County, Virginia (1735-1824) represented the anti-Federalist position during the Constitutional debates and wrote extensively on government, economics, slavery, and liberty in each republic. Taylor's ideology blends Lockean liberal and Classical Republican ideas. This study fills an important gap in our understanding of early American political thought. This results in a surprising discovery that redefines the current scholarly debate on early American political thought. It finds that John Taylor reconciles Lockean liberalism and Classical Republicanism in ways that challenge the belief that liberalism's basis in natural rights, individualism, limited, impartial government, and laissez fair economics is incompatible with republican concern for civic virtue, corruption, patronage, public credit, stock companies, centralized government, and standing armies. Taylor's writings provide a revealing perspective on American government that clears away much of the confusion of recent scholarship and offers a view of the Constitution that will be startling to many twentieth-century minds. Ironically, the Classical Republican paradigm which resurrects John Taylor, is seriously challenged by his theories, and yet is responsible for rescuing him from the opprobrium of being the premier 'states' rights' philosopher. Taylor's conception of government is based on the Lockean view that people are free, equal, and independent individuals who possess natural rights and should have the moral liberty to choose any form of government that suits them, without obligation to hereditary rulers or established social classes. Taylor acknowledges distinctions based only on individual merit: talents, education, and industry. Progress would occur as human reason improved and, therefore, government should be kept in close touch with its constituents through regular elections, rotations in office, and instructed representatives. Separation of powers in checks and balances among those in office were insufficient to keep officials from becoming oppressive, whether they were Federalists or Jeffersonians. John Taylor is well known for his defense of states' rights, but, always a unionist, the importance of decentralized government for him must be understood in the context of cultural pluralism and transparent government. Internationally, healthy open government will maintain peaceful relations with other countries and promote free trade while avoiding wars for economic domination and imperialistic plunder. When John Taylor of Caroline is viewed from the twin perspectives of Lockeanism and Classical Republicanism, his ideas provide inspiration for any who are concerned about homogenization of culture and loss of individual freedom, nationally, and internationally.