James Madison

From October 27, 1787 to April 2, 1788, 77 essays [in defense of the new Federal constitution] were published in the semi-weekly "Independent Journal" of New York, entitled "The Federalist". They were so acute and mas- sively learned in their exposition of the true intent of the Constitution, that even the courts have accepted themas authoritative comments in doubtful cases, and eight more were added when they were collected in book form [in1789]....