The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-07-25

deemed them no better than handing
the government over to the money
lenders of the towns. But boldaess
and energy prevailed, as they had pre-
vailed in the adoption Of 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 %, 1889;
and did not take his place in Washing
tons council till March q, 1890. All
of Hamilton's great plan had by that
time passed congress, except the as.
sumption of the state debts. Upon
that question a crisis had been
reached 1t had wrought congress to
a 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 a too great central
power, were set holly against the
measure; most of the northern mem
bers were as hotly 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 mis- 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
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.
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 consu,nmate politician he could
be in support of his craftsmanship.
The southern members wanted the
seat of the federal government estab-
Iished within their reach, upon the Po-
tomac, where congress might at least
be rid of importunate merchants and
money lenders clamoring at its 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.
Mr.. Jefferson was fresh upon the
field, was strong among the southern
members, was not embroiled or COM
mitted in the quarrel Hamilton be-
sought him to intervene. The success
Of the government was at stake. he
said, and Mr.. Jefferson could pluck
! it 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 a capital on the Potomac?
| The suggestion came as If 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 it was very eloquently
urged. Mr.. Jefferson declared he was
really a stranger to the whole sub
| ject," but would be glad to lend what
aid he could Would not Mr.. Hamilton
dine with him the next day, to meet
and confer with few of the southern
members? In the 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
majority for a capital on the Potomac;
and congress presently ratified the
| bargain
There was not little establishment
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
country. But congress had come out
of it's angry tangle of factions. calm
had returned to the government, and
Hamilton's plan stood finished and
complete. He had nationalized the
government as he wished.
jefferson Is chagrined.
1t was this fact that most struck
the eye of Jefferson when he had set
tied to his work and had come to see
affairs steadily and as a whole at the
seat of government. He saw Hamil-
ton supreme in the cabinet and in leg
islation-not because either the presi-
dent or congress was weak, but be-
cause Hamilton was a master in his
new field, and both congress and the
president had accepted his leadership.
1t chagrined Jefferson deeply to see
that he had himself assisted at Ham
ilton's triumph, had himself made it
complete, indeed. He could not easily
brook successful rivalry in leadership;
| hox