The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-02-26

! and rumors or the great debate as he
fingered at Monticello In order to adjust
his private affairs before entering upon
his duties I'm the cabinet The measure
had been lost ,at last in the house by
the narrow nIargin of two votes. But
the minority were in no humor 10 sub
nit They declined to transact any busi-
ness at all till they should be yielded
to In this matter. There were even ugly
threats TO be heard that some would
withdraw from congress and force a dis
solution OF the Union rather than make
concessions upon the one side for the
other.
II was TO this pass that things had
come when Mr.. Jefferson reached the seat
OF government; and his arrival gave
consummate a politician he could be In
support OF his statesmanship. The
southern members wanted the seat OF the
federal government established within
their reach. upon the Potomac, where
congress might at least be rid of i'm
Fortunate merchants and money lenders
clamoring at its doors, and OF imprac-
,icable Quakers with their petitions for
the abolition of slavery; and were almost
as hot at their failure to get their will
in that matter as the northern men were
to find themselves defeated upon the
question OF state debts.
ASKS JEFFERsoN's INTERVIEW
TON.
Mr.. Jefferson was fresh upon the field,
was strong among the southern mem
bers, was not embroiled or committed III
the quarrel. Hamilton besought him TO
intervene. The success OF the govern
ment was at stake, he said, and Mr.. Jet-
ferson could pluck it out OF peril. Might
it not be that the southern men would
consent to vote for the assumption or
the state debts il the northern members
would vote for a capital on the PotomacR
The suggestion came as II upon the
thought OF the moment. at chance
meeting on the street as the two men
walked and talked of matters OF the day.
but 1t was very eloquently urged;
Mr., Jefferson declared he was really
q stranger to the whole subject but
would be glad TO lend what aid he could
Would not Mr.. Hamilton dine with him
the next day, to meet and CONFER W1th
genial air Of the dinner-table the whole
difficulty was talked away: Two Of the
diners agreed TO vote for the assumption
Of the state debts If Mr.. Hamilton could
secure a ma jority for a capital on the
Potomac; and congress presently ratified
the bargain.
There was not little astonlshment at
the sudden clearing OF the skies. The
OF a andal and OF the shipwreck OF a
fair name or two went about the town
and spread to the country. But con-
gress had come out of Its angry tangle
OF factions calm had returned to the
government, and Hamilton's plan stood
finished and complete. lie mad ma
tionalized the government as he wished.
DEEPLY CHAGRINED.
It was this fact that most struck the
eye OF Jefferson when he had settled to
steadily and as a whole at the seat of
government He saw Hamilton supreme
In the cabinet and in leglslation-not be-
cause either the president or congress
was weak. but because Hamilton was
master in his new deld, and both con-
gress and the president had accepted his
leadership,
Il chagrined Jefferson deeply to see
hof he at Hap
triumph, had himself made It complete.
indeed, He could not easily brook sue
cessfu rivalry in leadership. must have
expected TO find himself. not Hamilton.
preferred In the counsels OF Il Yirgtnian
president: was beyond measure dis
mayed to see the administration already
just two months turned OF 3S, He began
ere long to declare that he had been
most ignoranty and innocently made TO
hold the candle" to the sharp work OF
been "a stranger TO the circumstances"
But II was not the circumstances OF
which he had been ignorant; 1t was the
effect of what he had done upon his own
government. When he came TO A calm
scrutiny Of the matter. he did not like
the assumption OF the state debts, and.
what was more serious for a man OF
political ambition, 1t was bitterly dis
tasteful to the very men from whom he
must lock 10 draw following when
parties Snould form, lie felt that ne
had been tr!cked; he knew that he had
been outrun In the race for leader
ship.
IN WASHINGTON'S CONFIDENCE,
What he did not understand or know
how to reckon with was the place and
purpose OF Washington In the govern
ment-
Hamilton had been Washington's
aide and confidant when a lad OF 20, and
knew in what way those must rule who
served under such a chief. He knew
that Washington must first be convinced
and Won; did not for moment doubt
that the president held the relns and
was master; was aware that his own
plans had prospered both in the making
and in the adoption because the purpose
they spoke was the purpose Washing |