New Views of the Constitution of the United States, by John Taylor of
Caroline, is now online at http://www.constitution.org/jt/jtnvc.htm . Taylor
is considered a leading proponent of the strict constructionist views of
Jefferson and Madison. This book, published in 1823, was his last, and some
say, most important work.

The following letter from Thomas Jefferson serves as a good introduction to
the book. It can be found in the Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 16, at
http://www.constitution.org/tj/jeff16.htm .

TO ROBERT J. GARNETT.

MONTICELLO, February 14, 1824.

DEAR SIR, -- I have to thank you for the copy of Colonel Taylor's New Views
of the Constitution and shall read them with the satisfaction and
edification which I have ever derived from whatever he has written. But I
fear it is the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Those who formerly
usurped the name of federalists, which, in fact, they never were, have now
openly abandoned it, and are as openly marching by the road of construction,
in a direct line to that consolidation which was always their real object.
They, almost to a man, are in possession of one branch of the government,
and appear to be very strong in yours. The three great questions of
amendment now before you, will give the measure of their strength. I mean,
1st, the limitation of the term of the Presidential service; 2d, the placing
the choice of President effectually in the hands of the people; 3d, the
giving to Congress the power of internal improvement, on condition that each
State's federal proportion of the moneys so expended, shall be employed
within the State. The friends of consolidation would rather take these
powers by construction than accept them by direct investiture from the
States.

Yet, as to internal improvement particularly, there is probably not a State
in the Union which would not grant the power on the condition proposed, or
which would grant it without that. The best general key for the solution of
questions of power between our governments, is the fact that "every foreign
and federal power is given to the federal government, and to the States
every power purely domestic." I recollect but one instance of control vested
in the federal, over the State authorities, in a matter purely domestic,
which is that of metallic tenders. The federal is, in truth, our foreign
government, which department alone is taken from the sovereignty of the
separate States.

The real friends of the Constitution in its federal form, if they wish it to
be immortal, should be attentive, by amendments, to make it keep pace with
the advance of the age in science and experience. Instead of this, the
European governments have resisted reformation, until the people, seeing no
other resource, undertake it themselves by force, their only weapon, and
work it out through blood, desolation and long-continued anarchy. Here it
will be by large fragments breaking off, and refusing re-union but on
condition of amendment, or perhaps permanently. If I can see these three
great amendments prevail, I shall consider it as a renewed extension of the
term of our lease, shall live in more confidence, and die in more hope. And
I do trust that the republican mass, which Colonel Taylor justly says is the
real federal one, is still strong enough to carry these truly federo-
republican amendments. With my prayers for the issue, accept my friendly and
respectful salutations.

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