The Washington herald., 1906-12-17
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Madison Papers Show He Favored
King, Lord, and Commons.

King, Lord, and Commons.
Editor The Washington Herald:
In your issue Of Saturday appears a let
ter. headed, Questions Champ Clark"
In this Mr.. Clark is quoted as saying
that;
Alexander Hamilton pronounced the
British constitution the best ever de-
vised by the art Of man. and declared
in favor of king. lords, and commons
The writer of the letter says: The fact
can be easily proved that, in the forma-
ton of our constitutional system. Alex
ander Hamilton was in perfect accord
with Washington, with Madison. and with
Jay. and l venture to say that no evil
dence exists that he ever pronounced the
British constitution the best ever devised
by the art Of man.
washington presided over the cOnsti-
tutional convention of 1881. and Hamilton
and Madison were members. There Is be-
fore the writer copy Of the Madison
Papers. in which is a daily report OF this
convention. prepared from notes taken by
Mr. Madison, who was present every day
but one.
From these papers it appears that Ham
iltOn was present the first day, May %
17S7. but did not take any part until June
Is OPP. 721 and S7S.
Meantime. two schemes for a cOnstitu-
ton had been offered, one Of which was
in substance the form adopted. In his
speech OF June IS, 17S7, Mr.. Hamilton
said he had been hitherto silent on the
business before the convention, partly
from TesDece TO others whose superior
abilities, age, ana experience rendered
him unwilling 10 bring forward ideas dis
similar 10 theirs, and partly from his deli
cate situation with respect to his own
State to whose sentiments, as expressed
by his colleagues, he could by no means
accede The crisis, however. which now
marked our affairs was too serious TO per
nit any scruples whatever 10 prevail over
the duty imposed on every man TO con-
tribute his efforts for the public safety
and happiness. He was obliged, there
fore. to declare himself unfriendly to
both plans"
Mr. Hamilton was one Of the delegates
from New York, the State Of John Jay.
who approved the Constitution as adopt
ed (MadsOn Papers. p $3.50.
On page Ss6 Hamilton says: This pro-
gress OF the public mind led him 20 antici
pate the time when others. as vel as
himself. would join in the praise be
slowed by Mr. Neckar on the British
constitution. namely, that It is the only
government in the world which unites
public strength with Individual secur-
ity.'"
And again. page $50 Their House Of
Lords is a most noble institution
And again. page So: AS to the execu-
fsr 81 RI Ia ar rr7frf Cd "a m
good one could be established on republi-
can principles"
The English model was the only good
one on this subject. The hereditary in
terest Of the king was so interviewer with
that of the nation. and MS personal emol-
ument so great, that ne was placed above
the danger Of being corrupted from
abroad: and at the same time was both
sufficiently independent and sufficiently
controlled. to answer the purpose Of the
institution at home.
Mr.. Hamilton's form OF government
which is on page Sso provided for one
house for term of years. another house
for life. and one executive for life.
The Madison Papers are authoritative,
and moreover. IN a note on page S93. Mr..
Madison says: The speech introducing
the plan. az above taken down and writ
ten, was seen by Mr.. Hamilton, who ap-
proved its correctness. with one or two
verbal changes, which were as he sug-
gested.
This clearly proves that Alexander
Hamilton did not approve Of our Consti-
tuition, was not In perfect accord with
Washington and Madison, who signed
il. and jay. who approved IT. and that
II aH:f.ton pronounced the British con-
stitution the best ever devised by the art
Of man. and declared in favor of king,
/ lords, and commons"
v n STNCI ETON