One of the party of Alexander Hamilton, opposed to Jeffersonian notions.

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1787.  According to the degree of pleasure and pride we feel in being repbulicans ought to be our zeal in cherishing the spirit and supporting the character of Federalists.—James Madison in The Federalist, No. 10. (N.E.D.)

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1787.  An “Address to all Federalists,” by “Curtius” of New York.—American Museum, ii. 381–4.

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1788.  This town [Carlisle, Pa.] is now divided into two distinct parties, Federalists and Antifederalists, and almost the whole county of Cumberland is of the last description.—Maryland Journal, Feb. 18.

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1788.  See also the address of “Freeman” to the Freemen of Baltimore-Town.—id., Feb. 19.

5

1788.  The famous Dr. Spring asked a lady on which side she was, fed. or antifed.—Id., June 3.

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1799.  Some of the feds gave themselves airs, and said they would not vote for him.—The Aurora, Phila., Jan. 8.

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1799.  The southern feds have been completely jockied.—Id., Feb. 13.

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1799.  

        True Feds, that is, friends to old measures,
  Who the maxims of Georgy pursue,
His bloodhounds to feast on our treasures.
Id., May 24.    

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1799.  The drunken Feds vowed they were as good royalists, and as fond of monarchy as any of Georgy’s chickens.—Id., June 10.

10

1800.  The nicknames Anglo-federal, Anglo-federalism, &c., were also current.—Id., Sept. 20, 25, &c.

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1800.  

        I am a trimming fed’ralist,
And Jefferson I will resist;
Should he succeed, then I can twist
Round readily.
Id., Nov. 28.    

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1800.  The same paper, Feb. 17, published a satirical analysis or Table of Component Parts of the federal party:—

          I.  The party called the President’s [John Adams’s] friends.
  1.  The New England Party.
  2.  The Connecticut Illuminati.
  3.  The Office-hunting party.
  II.  The Hamiltonian party.
  4.  The old tory and refugee party.
  5.  The army and navy, place and profit-hunting party.
  6.  The funding, banking, and loan party.
  7.  The British agency and speculating party.
  8.  The monarchical and anti-gallican party.

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1802.  “Letters to Alexander Hamilton, King of the Feds,” by James Thomson Callender, were published in New York.

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1804.  

        While Burrites and Feds abuse Tommy the Great,
  And call him a trimmer, and leader of asses,
By his prudence and foresight we’ve gained a great state,
  Abounding in whisky and lakes of molasses.
Mass. Spy, Feb. 22. [The allusion is to Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase.]    

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1805.  

        The Federalist’s hobby to talk, not to act is,
In theory perfect, deficient in practice.
Like the victim at Gaza, they sleep without fear,
And permit the Philistines their tresses to shear.
Id., July 17.    

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