Part IV. Letters of Centinel

Abstract

The "Centinel" wrote a series of 24 articles that appeared in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer and the Philadelphia Freeman's Journal between October 5, 1787, and November 24, 1788. He argued that the elaborate system of checks and balances would be less effective in protecting liberty than in preventing the people from detecting corruption and tyranny in their leaders, and that a simple, responsive plan of government would be better.

Some historians feel most of the "Centinel" letters were written by Samuel Bryan, and a few by Eleazer Oswald, owner of the Independent Gazetteer.