The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-03

| lines much more acceptable to the advocates OF
| strong government than was at first intend
ed he sprang at once to the front among the
champions OF the proposed political system. 1t
| was in this last decisive struggle. in securing
| the acceptance by the States OF the work OF tho
| Convention. that Hamilton rendered his most
important services to the Constitution. 1t was
at this period OF course. that he made his con-
| tributions to the Fsderdiist Although these
essays had great influence throughout tho
United States they should perhaps be ranked
second rs regards practical effect to tho great
| speech delivered by Hamilton in tho New York
Convention. by which the chief spokesman OF
the Clintonian party. Melancthon Smith ac-
knowlodged that no had been convinced, and
which obtained majority OF three for the adop-
ton OF the new scheme Of government. Tried
by the severest test. that Of winning votes and
overcoming an excited majority. Hamiton's
victory in tho New York Convention IL OF the
highest rank in the annals Of modern oratory.
Soon after the new Government went into op-
GRAFTON under Washington IA President Ham
ilton. at the age of 80, was invited 10 take the
office OF Secretary Of the Treasury. To the
work which he accomplished in this difficult
position Mr.. Lodge devotcs two chapters of his
book. but the results of his financial policy are
summed up in n few sentences When Ham,
iton took Office there was no public credit; he
created it. There was no circulating medium,
no financial machinery; he supplied them.
Business was languishing but 1t revived under
the Treasury measures. In March. 1889 there
was, only . paper Constitution: the new Gov
eminent was but an experiment. and it was
yet uncertain how much vitality it had. I. was
Hamilton who brought out tho powers granted
by the Constitution. evolved those which lay
hidden in its dry clauses and gave efficiency
to the lifeless instrument. Such. 1t must be
admitted, were the results OF his financial
policy; but it also had the effect Of dividing the
people Of the United States into two compact
and bitterly antagonistic parties. When he be-
came Secretary of the Treasury the Federalsts
had achieved their immediate object, and were
but loosely held together. while the only bond
of union on the part Of their oppo-
nents had been resistance to the Con-
stituton and this had constantly grown
weaker as the popularity OF the new sys-
tenn increased. Strong as they still were in
numbers the Democratic Republican party OF
the future had rs yet no better name than
Anti ederalsts. and no better cry than that
of opposition to everything emanating from
the Government This loose incoherent mass
was welded together by Hamitons aggressive
measures. so that when the National Bank act
passed the Federalists were confronted by much
carried the funding Of the domestic debt
Their antagonists gained. moreover. leaders
OF great ability in IIamilton's colleague in tho
Cabinet, Thomas Jefferson. the Secretary OF
State. and in Madison who had been the fore
most champion Of the Constitu ton in the Con-
vention, and who had COD perated with Hamilton
in defending that instrument in the FedyaliSt.
But the desperate assault on Hamiltons
management of the Treasury. which cumi-
mated in the resolutions OF censure intro
duced in Congress by Giles. was triumphantly
repulsed by Hamilton. II thus became evident
that the leader Of the Federalists could not be
driven from the Cabinet, and after a second
conflict growing out Of the foreign policy Of the
Government and the expulsion of Genet. JEFF
ferson himself resigned. One more effort was
made to impeach Hamiltons capacity and
integrity in his fiscal administration and
after this had been defeated he retired
from public life. after holding office for
about six years. He was soon compelled
however, to engage in the fierce contest that
broke out over the Jay treaty with England.
and it is noteworthy that he was stoned when
attempting to speak at a public meeting in
New York. Thereupon he proceeded to defend
the treaty and the Administration in a series
Of essays signed "Camillus." which con-
tinued to appear for a year. and gradually
1t was the effect Of these essays which inspired
Burr's remark that any one who put himself
on paperwith Hamilton was lost. While Hamil-
ton was rendering these important services to
his party. the third Presidential elc .tion came
on, which resulted in the choice Of Adams for
President and Jefferson for Vice-President.
According 10 the present biographer Hamilton
preferred Pickney to Adams on the ground
that in the event of the formers success he
would himself remain the controlling influence
with the Administration while his observation
had led him to suspect that the reverse might
be the case under Adams. The result justified
his msgivings. When Adams came to tho head
of the Government he regarded Hamilton as
guilty of the objectionable sin Of want Of re-
spect toward himself. and as graspng. die
tatoral, and prone to intrigue. The President
| accordingly determined. first to ignore Hamil-
ton, and afterward to crush him. Hamilton.
on his part. undertook to force the Presidents
hand through his power over the Cabinet and
the leaders in Congress. The result Of such re-
lations was to cause an open breach between
these two leaders. and to bring disaster on the
Federalist party
1t is pointed ont by Mr.. Lodge that for the
alien and sedtion laws. which ruined the Fed
eralist party in popular esteem, in the very hour
when its ascendancy seemed impregnaby es-
taUllsneu Hamllton was not primarily RESPONSE
ble He WAS much alarmed by the first draft OF
these bills and wrote urgently in favor of modi-
lcatons. Ofthe alien act and the mode Of its ex-
ecuton he said, Let us not be cruel or violent"
In the first draft Of the sedtion act no saw dan
ger OF civil war. and said. Let us not establish
q tyranny. Energy is a very different thing
from violence" 1t is not denied. however that.
! when the laws were modified and passed they
received Hamiton's earnest support In a let
ter moreover. written n year later, to Speaker
Dayton he avows his wish not on y to uphold a
strong sedition law, and the power TO Danish
| aliens. but to increase Capitalization by every
means. to enlarge tho army and navy. to ex-
tend the powers OF the general Government
and especially OF the national judiciary. and
to subdivlde the States as soon as practicable
In the State elections which preceded the
fourth Presidential election the Fedcralists lost
so much ground that victory in New York be-
came Of supreme Importance. Hamilton threw
himself into the struggle with great energy.
but he proved to be no match as a political
| manager for his antagonist Aaron Burr New