The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-12-23

nause To nav off the paper of the
would be to give 70 he I
SPECTATORS. who had bought 1t up IN !
the hope of just such measure, ,
eratuity of many times what they nad
paid for it. To assume the state oenls /
would be taken to mean tnat the
states were bankrupt or deiinquent'l
hat the federal government was 70
he their guardian and financial proyi- |
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 ana
profitable employment. This was ma
tionalizing the government with ven
geance. and was a 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 of the Constltu-
ton itself, and both measures were
carried through the houses-the 1rst
at once, the second after close and
doubtful struggle-by stratagem ana
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 %, 1888;
and did not take his place in Washing
tons council till March q, 1880 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 1t had wrought congress to
a dangerous heat of feeling. Mem
bers from the south, where trade was
rot much sstir aud financial interests
told for less than local pride anu
sharp jealousy of a too great central
power, were set holly against the
measure; most of the northern mem
bers were as holly resolved upon its
adoption.
Mr.. Jefferson must have caught
echoes and rumors of the great debate
as he fingered at Monticello in order
to adjust his private affairs before en-
tering 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
M; hamor to submit. They declined to
transact any business at all till. they
should he 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.
1t was to this pass that things had
come when Mr.. Jefferson reached the
seat of government; and his arrival
| gave Hamilton an opportunity to show
/ how consummate a politician he could
! be in support of his craftsmanship.
/ The southern members wanted the
/ seat of the federal government estab-
+ lished within their reach, upon the Po-
{ tonac, where congress might at least
I be rid of unfortunate merchants and
I money lenders clamoring at its doors.
and of fmpracticable 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
I question of the state debts.
/ Mr.. Jefferson was fresh upon the
field, was strong among the southern
members. was not embroiled or com.
! mitted in the quarrel. Hamilton be
Fought him to intervene. The success
of the government was at stake, h
/ this desirable purpose may be adopted
without delay. Such other
measures as may be necessary for us
1 to pursue against events which it may
not be in our power to avoid or con
troll; you viii also think of, and lay
! them before me at my arrival-in Phil
adelphia3 for which place 1 shall set
out tomorrow"
(TO BE CONTINUED.)