Bisbee daily review., 1913-05-18

Il paid. ana that the ueDis cOnlfacled Dg
 the several states in the prosecution of the war for independence should
 be assumed by the general govern ment as the debt of the nation.
 No one could doubt that the foreign debt must be paid in full: to that con- gress agreed heartily and without hes ltation. But there was much in the
 rest of the plan to give prudent men pause. To pay of the paper of tle Confederation would be to give to sho spectators, who had bought it up in the hope of just such a measure. a gratuity of many times what they had paid for it. To assume the state debts 1 would be taken to mean that the states were bankrupt or delinquent, that the federal government was to
 be their guardian and financial provi- dence. and that the capital of the country must look only to the govern ment of the nation, not to the govern ment of the states, for security and profitable employment. This was na- tionalizing the government with ven geance, and was plain bid, besides, to win the money class to its support Members whose constituencies lay away from the centers of trade looked askance at such measures, and deemed them no better than handing the government over to the money lenders of the towns. But boldness and energy prevailed, as they had pre- vailed in the adoption ef the Constitu. ton itself, and both measures were carried through the houses-the first at once, the second after a close and doubtful struggle-by stratagem and barter.
 Part of Plan Opposed.
 Jefferson had been in France when Washington called him to assume the headship of foreign affairs at home; had not reached New York on his re turn voyage until December z3, 17S9; and did not take his place in Washing tons council till March 21, 1790. All of Hamilton's great plan had by that time passed congress, except the as. sumption of the state debts. Upon that question crisis had been reached. It had wrought congress to dangerous heat of feeling. Mem. bers from the south, where trade was not much astir and financial interests told for less than local pride and sharp jealousy of too great central power, were set hotly against the measure; most of the northern mem. bers were as hotly resolved upon its adoption.
 MT. Jefferson must have caught 1F sra Al as he fingered at Monticello in order to adjust his private affairs before en. teTing upon his duties in the cabinet The measure had been lost at last in the house by the narrow margin of two votes. But the minority were in no humor to submit. They declined to transact any business 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 dissolution of the Union rather than make concessions upon the one side or the other.
 Jefferson's Support Won.
 It was to this pass that things had come when Mir. Jefferson reached the seat of government; and his arrival gave Hamilton an opportunity to show how consummate politician he could be in support of his statesmanship. The southern members wanted the seat of the federal government estab- lished within their reach, upon the Po- tomac, where congress might at least be rid of importunate merchants and money lenders clamoring at it's doors, and of impracticable 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 the state debts.
 Mir Jefferson was fresh upon the field, was strcng among the southern members, was not embroiIed or com mitted in the quarrel. Hamilton be- sought him to intervene The success of the government was at stake. he
 said, and Mir Jetferson could PlUek
 1t out of peril. Might it not be that
 the southern men would consent to
 vote for the assumption of the state
 debts if the northern members would
 vote for capital on the Potomsc7
 The suggestion came as if upon the thought of the moment, at a chance meeting on the street, as the two men
 walked and talked of matters of the day; but 1t was very eioquently urged. Mir. Jefferson declared he was really a stranger to the whole sub | feet" Hlt would be glad to lend what aid hs could. Would not Mr. Hamilton | dine YiSA him the next day, to meet ! Rl.d confer with few of the southern
 members? In the genial sir 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 Mir Hamilton could. secure a
 majority for a capital on the Potomac;
 and congress presently ratified the bargain.
 | There was not a little astonishment
 at the sudden clearing of the skies.
 The waters did not go down at once; hints of a scandal and of the ship
 wreck of a fair name or two went
 about the town and spread to the