Editing Elbridge Gerry (section)

===U.S. House of Representatives===
[[File:Alexander Hamilton portrait by Ezra Ames-cropped.jpg|thumb|Gerry supported the federalist economic policies of [[Alexander Hamilton]]]]

Anti-Federalist forces nominated Gerry for governor in 1788, but he was predictably defeated by the popular incumbent [[John Hancock]].<ref>Billias, p. 215</ref> Following its ratification, Gerry recanted his opposition to the Constitution, noting that other state ratifying conventions had called for amendments that he supported.<ref>Billias, p. 207</ref> He was nominated by friends (over his own opposition to the idea) for a seat in the inaugural House of Representatives, where he served two terms.<ref>Billias, pp. 216, 243</ref>

In June 1789, Gerry proposed that Congress consider all of the proposed constitutional amendments that various state ratifying conventions had called for (notably those of [[Rhode Island]] and [[North Carolina]], which had at the time still not ratified the Constitution).<ref>Billias, p. 229</ref> In the debate that followed, he led opposition to some of the proposals, arguing that they did not go far enough in ensuring individual liberties.  He successfully lobbied for inclusion of [[freedom of assembly]] in the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] and was a leading architect of the [[Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourth Amendment]] protections against [[search and seizure]].<ref>Billias, p. 231</ref> He sought unsuccessfully to insert the word "expressly" into the [[Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Tenth Amendment]], which might have more significantly limited the federal government's power.<ref>Billias, pp. 233–34</ref>

He was successful in efforts to severely limit the federal government's ability to control [[State defense force|state militias]].<ref>Billias, p. 232</ref> In tandem with this protection, he had once argued against the idea of the federal government controlling a large [[standing army]], saying, "A standing army is like a standing member. It's an excellent assurance of domestic tranquility, but a dangerous temptation to foreign adventure."<ref name="Isaacson">{{Cite book |last=Isaacson |first=Walter |author-link=Walter Isaacson |url=https://archive.org/details/benjaminfranklin00isaa_0/page/456 |title=Benjamin Franklin: An American Life |date=2003 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0-684-80761-0 |location=New York, NY |page=[https://archive.org/details/benjaminfranklin00isaa_0/page/456 456] |access-date=May 24, 2013}}</ref>

Gerry vigorously supported [[Alexander Hamilton]]'s reports on public credit, including the assumption at full value of state debts, and supported Hamilton's [[First Bank of the United States|Bank of the United States]], positions consistent with earlier calls he had made for economic centralization.<ref>Billias, pp. 223, 237</ref> Although he had speculated in depreciated Continental bills of credit (the [[IOU]]s at issue), there is no evidence he participated in large-scale speculation that attended the debate when it took place in 1790, and he became a major investor in the new bank.<ref>Billias, pp. 240, 242</ref> He used the floor of the House to speak out against aristocratic and monarchical tendencies he saw as threats to [[Republicanism in the United States|republican ideals]], and generally opposed laws and their provisions that he perceived as limiting individual and state liberties.  He opposed any attempt to give officers of the executive significant powers, specifically opposing establishment of the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]] because its head might gain more power than the president.<ref>Billias, p. 225</ref> He opposed measures that strengthened the presidency, such as the ability to fire [[Cabinet of the United States|Cabinet]] officers, seeking instead to give the legislature more power over appointments.<ref>Billias, p. 226</ref>

Gerry did not stand for re-election in 1792, returning home to raise his children and care for his sickly wife.<ref>Billias, p. 243</ref> He agreed to serve as a [[United States Electoral College|presidential elector]] for John Adams in the [[1796 United States presidential election|1796 election]].<ref>Billias, p. 245</ref> 

During Adams' term in office, Gerry maintained good relations with both Adams and Vice President [[Thomas Jefferson]], hoping that the divided executive might lead to less friction.  His hopes were not realized: the split between Federalists (Adams) and Democratic-Republicans (Jefferson) widened.<ref name="P51_52">Purcell, pp. 51–52</ref>