Anti-Federalist Papers

The Anti-Federalist Papers, written by Robert Yates, was used to promote state power having more control than the central government. The reason being that once "people part with power, they can seldom or never resume it again but by force." Anti-Federalists believed that if the states lose power because of having to conform to the federal court then state power will lose dignity and respectability and it becomes the "destruction of liberty" in their eyes. The reason they want state government to have more power is for the people's voices can be expressed to the government. They weren't in favor of a standing army because that would only make the populous listen if there was a gun pointed to their heads. In sum, the Anti-Federalists argued that if the people would have a stronger central governments it would end in demise just like all of the other past countries (i.e. Romans, Greeks).
Yates' ideas are a move towards this idea of trying to cater to the individual not just the class. Instead of having more power in the central government, the states would be able to focus on what the people in their particular state need and help them satisfy that need. I don't think this idea was as liked because then it would look like each state is more like a country of its own instead of a state in the country. This system nevertheless, should be more efficient because the opinion of the people would be heard and the government could act upon it if it suited the best interests of the people.