Alexander Hamiton, Traitor to the Revolution

Alexander Hamilton was an enemy to the spirit of the American Revolution and turned his back on the cause like Benedict Arnold. His “American Dream” was contrary to the vision of many of the other founding fathers, especially that of Thomas Jefferson. His financial agenda would change the political vision of the new American government and re-embrace the economic policies that the colonies had just fought a war to break free from.
  
At the constitutional convention in 1787, his true agenda would unfold as the founding generation was attempting to secure the natural rights of men. With careful review of Hamilton’s agenda and his view on government, it is easy to conclude that he “favored British tradition and believed that some sort of monarchist government would be best for the United States” (Whipple 1991).

This traitor to the revolution 

proposed an alternative constitution that concentrated all political power in the central government, especially the executive branch, with virtually no role at all for the states. He also proposed a “permanent president” who would have absolute veto power over all legislation and who would also have the power to appoint all state governors. He did not believe in the divided sovereignty of federalism that was adopted by the other founding fathers (DiLorenzo, The Real Lincoln 2002).

In order to centralize the power of government, Hamilton also proposed a financial plan that would create a national debt, public credit, a central bank, and government sponsored projects. The credit that would come from a national debt would be established through government buy backs of the securities issued by the Continental Congress during the war with Great Britain. He also suggested that the newly proposed government develop its credit by taking upon the war debts encored by the states.  With the creation of a national bank the powers of the centralized government would implement “national mercantilism—in other words, government-assisted economic development” (James A. Henretta 2009).

Senator John Sherman, a member of the Republican Party (which was formed in 1854 on Hamiltonian principles) and a Senator from Ohio, explained what this agenda really meant for the nation when he said that their party’s objective was “to nationalize as much as possible, even the currency, so as to make men love their country before their states. All private interests, all local interests, all banking interests, the interests of individuals, everything, should be subordinate now to the interest of the Government” (DiLorenzo, Lincoln Unmasked 2006).

These economic principles and centralized government policies of the Hamiltonians horrified many of the founding generation. Patrick Henry warned that power corrupts even good men and voiced is concerns for Hamilton and his follower’s push for central government.

Show me that age and country where the rights and liberties of the people were placed on the sole chance of their rulers being good men without a consequent loss of liberty! I say that the loss of that dearest privilege has ever followed, with absolute certainty, every such mad attempt (Wootton 2003).

 
Thomas Jefferson spoke volumes contrary to Hamilton’s agenda. His attacks on central government would elevate him to the status of Hamilton’s nemesis. Not only would President Washington notice the stark difference of opinion between his two cabinet ministers, the Secretary of State (Thomas Jefferson) and the Secretary of Treasury (Alexander Hamilton), but the entire world through the media of the time. Washington respected both men for their knowledge and wisdom. The President would admit that he was unfamiliar with financial matters, so he relied on Hamilton’s “expertise” on the issue. He would offer the same respect to Jefferson’s knowledge in foreign affairs.
  
With the gulf between the two ministers widening, Washington asked the two to account for their great opposition. Jefferson wrote the President that “from the moment at which history can stoop to notice him [Hamilton], is a tissue of machinations against the liberty of the country which has not only received and give him bread but heaped its honors on his head” (Randall 1993). These ministers would be so completely opposed to each other’s thoughts on government that the two party system would be created as a result of it.

Thomas Jefferson’s vision for the new republic was dramatically different from that of Hamilton’s scheme. Government powers were to be limited by the constitution and Bill of Rights in order to protect the people from the abuses of tyranny. History and examples of government abuse from the “Old World” was what motivated the colonies to declare their independence in 1776. The author of that Declaration of Independence was extremely familiar with the atrocities imposed by a tyrannical government drenched in economic principles of mercantilism. The Revolutionary War was fought to overthrow the financial burdens imposed by a strong centralized government. Just four years since the war’s conclusion, the same theoretical principles were being fought over at the constitutional convention.

The great man from Monticello would write of Hamilton’s attempts to corrupt Congress through his financial agenda.

Hamilton's financial system had…two objects. First, as a puzzle to exclude popular understanding and inquiry. Second, as a machine for the corruption of the [Congress]; for he avowed the opinion that man could be governed by one of two motives only, force or interest. Force, he observed, in this country, was out of the question, and the interests, therefore, of the members, must be laid hold of, to keep the [Congress] in unison with the executive. And with grief and shame it must be acknowledged that his machine was not without effect; that even in this, the birth of our government, some members were found sordid enough to bend their duty to their interests, and to look after personal rather than public good....[Hamilton’s financial system] added to the number of votaries to the Treasury, and made its chief the master of very vote in the [Congress] which might give to the government the directions suited to his political views (Maxfield 1983).

On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson offered his first inaugural address to the people. After Hamilton had pushed forth his financial agenda and the Adam’s administration would also do much to twist the Constitution to their central government plans and attack the Bill of Rights, Jefferson would attempt to restore the republic during his admiration. He expressed his views on “good government” in his address.

Let us, then, with courage and confidence pursue our own Federal and Republican principles… a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities (Yale 2008).

If the vision of the revolution was to remove a king from our government and to have no taxation without representation, then Hamilton’s plan was contrary to that goal. It is clear by the examples of today’s “American System” (a phrased coined based on Hamilton’s agenda) and the application of it (through the help of men like Henry Clay and Abraham Lincoln) that Thomas Jefferson and many of the founders were right in being concerned for his plan. It is clear today that the people’s rights are not being protected from corruptible public servants, who are caving to their personal interests over the public good. With the national debt at 17 trillion dollars and with ever increasing government regulations and taxes that are chocking the economic prosperity of the American people, we can easily see how Hamilton betrayed the people and the revolution.   

Bibliography

DiLorenzo, Thomas J. "Lincoln Unmasked." 138. New York: Crown Forum, 2006.

DiLorenzo, Thomas J. "The Real Lincoln." 77. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2002.

James A. Henretta. "The Creation of American Society." By David Brody, 195. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009.

Maxfield, M. Richard. "The Real Thomas Jefferson." 469. Washington D.C.: National Center for Constitutional Studies, 1983.

Randall, Willard Sterne. "Thomas Jefferson." 503. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1993.

Whipple, A. B. C. "To the Shores of Tripoli." 29. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press, 1991.

"The essential Federalist and anti-Federalist papers." By David Wootton, 37. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 2003.

Yale. Thomas Jefferson First Inaugural Address. 2008. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/jefinau1.asp (accessed October 23, 2013).