The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-08-15
not an influence and q shadow

Here was man, unquestionably.
who had quick genius in affairs; and
Washington gave him leave and Initi-
alive with such sympathy and com
prehension and support az only a ma,
ture equally bold and equally original
could have given Hamilton's meas
ures jumped with Washington's pur-
pose, ran with Washington's percep
ton of national interests; and they
were with WashingtoRs aid put into
| execution with promptness and de-
cision which must have surprised the
friends Of the new government no less
than it chagrined and alarmed its en-
| emies.
| His Plan Of Finance.
Having done it's work OF organiza-
ton during it's first summer session,
! the congress came together again.
January 4. 1880. to attempt the formu-
Iation OF policy OF government. and
Hamilton at once laid before it a plan
for the settlement of the public debt"
which he lad drawn and Washington
had sanctioned. He proposed that
provision should be made for the pay
ment of the foreign debt in full-that
Of course; that the domestic debt, the
despised promises End paper of the
! Confederation, should be funded and
paid; and that the debts contracted by
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 thar con-
gress agreed heartily and without hes
itation. But there was much in the
rest of the plan to give prudent men
pause. To pay OF the paper of the
Confederation would be to give TO the
spectators, who had bought it up in
the hope or Just such measure, q
gratuity OF many times what they had
paid for it. To assume the state debts
woIfd 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 ma
tionaiizing the government with 2 ven
I 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
askanee 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 Constitu
ton itself, and both measures were
carried through the houses-the irst
at once, the second after close anC
doubtful struggle-by stratagem and
barter
Part Of Plan Opposed.
Jefferson had been in France wher
Washington called him to assume the
headship Of foreign affairs at home;
had not reached New York on his re
turn voyage until December %. 1883;
and did not take his place in Washing
: tons council till March p, 1890. Al
OF Hamilton's great plan had by thai
time passed congress, except the as
sumption of the state debts. Upor
: that question a crisis had beer
reached. 1t had wrought congress tt
dangerous heat of feeling. Mem
bers from the south, where trade wa:
not much astir and financial interest:
told for less than local pride ant
sharp jealousy of a too great centra
power. were set holly against this
4 -,
hers were as holly resolved upon it,
adoption.
Mr.. Jefferson must have caugh
echoes and rumors of the great debat'
as he fingered at Monticello in ordel
to adjust his private affairs before en-
tering upon his duties in the cabinet
The measure had been lost at las
in the house by the narrow margin o
two votes. But the minority were il
! no humor to submit They declined Il
transact any business at all till the,
should be yielded to in this matter
There were even ugly threats TO b.
: heard that some would withdraw from
congress and force dissolution OF thi
. Union rather than make concession
upon the one side or the other.
Jefferson,s Support Won.
, It was to this pass that things ha,
come when Mr.. Jefferson reached tn
seat of government; and his arriva
] gave Hamilton an opportunity TO shoy
! how eonsummate politician he eoull
be in support of his craftsmanship
! The southern members wanted tht
r seat OF the federal government estah
, lished within their reach. upon the Po
) tomac, where congress might at leas
be rid Of importunate merchants AM
money lenders ciamoring at its doors
J and OF impractieable Quakers witt
their petitions for the abolition o
, slavery; and were almost as hot a
their failure to get their will in tina
/ matter as the northern men were t
! find themselves defeated upon tn
. question of The state debts.
/ Mr.. Jefferson was fresh upon III