Question

Madison's Letter to Jefferson, October 1787

It was generally agreed that the objects of the Union could not be secured by any system founded on the principle of a confederation of sovereign States. A voluntary observance of the federal law by all the members, could never be hoped for.

–James Madison,
letter to Thomas Jefferson,
October 24, 1787

In this passage, Madison discusses the decision to write a new Constitution.

Madison suggests that under a confederation, the states:

would be better able to work together.
would not share the same principles.
would not cooperate with each other voluntarily.
would be more secure.

Answer 1

"would not cooperate with each other voluntarily."

Madison writes that "A voluntary observance of the federal law by all the members... could never be hoped for," indicating he believed a confederation would not produce reliable voluntary cooperation among the states.