In Federalist #26, The Idea of Restraining the Legislative Authority in Regard to the Common Defense Considered, Hamilton continues his defense of the proposed Constitution’s provisions for standing armies in times of peace – consistent with the goal of the new Constitution to achieve a balance between the “energy” of government and the rights of the people.
Critics of the new Constitution are motivated by a “zeal for liberty more ardent than enlightened,” he argues. He insists that the nation must adopt a political system that affords government the power it needs to govern while also protecting private rights and points out that most state constitutions recognize that “confidence must be placed somewhere” i.e., although Americans fear an excessively powerful government, it would be far more dangerous to put so many restrictions on the central legislative authority that the government cannot do its job.
Credit for the summary and analysis of Essay #26 is given to
Brittany Nelson and Christopher Higgins (second revision 09/15/2011). Weinbloom, Elizabeth ed. “The Federalist Papers Essay 26 Summary and Analysis”. GradeSaver, 30 December 2011 Web. 27 January 2019.