Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-14
HAMILTON'S PLAN.

HAMILTON'S PLAN.
Hamilton, in beginning his memorable
speech of June 10, explained his long
silence in the convention by two facts
- first, his unwillingness to advance
views so dissimilar to those held by
older and ADLER men whose opinions he
regarded with such high esteem, and,
secondly, the lack Of sentiment in his
State favorable to a strong central
government.
He then proceeded to attack both the
Virginia and the New Jersey plans.
The New Jersey plan seemed to him to
be utterly worthless and even vicious,
because it marked no real advance be-
yond the Confederation ideas of the
Articles. He did not feel that any
| compromise on representation in one
branch of the legislative department
could possibly meet the situation. His
idea was that the whole structure Of
the Central Government needed strength
ening. BY strengthening the Govern
ment he meant the removal OF all its
functions from the immediate whimS of
the people.
Accepting the Virginia plan as the
only one having sufficient virility to fur
nish working system, he directed his
argument toward urging delegates to go
beyond Randolph's plan and accept the
! principle Of ariStocratic control in all
| branches of the Government.
After an hour of close reasoning on
the Virginia plan, he presented his own
ideas. His plan called for the follow
ing:
% A supreme legislative depart
ment in two branches, one, the Assem-
bly,, to be popularity elected for three
year term, and the other, the Senate, to
be elected by electors and to serve for
! life.
| (2) A supreme Executive. chosen by
electors designated by the people, and
serving for life. The Executive to carry
| into execution those laws which he had
! approved and to negative those laws not
approved by him. He was also to have
! the direction of war, when it had been
| authorized by the Senate; to make
| treaties, with the advice and approba-
ton of the Senate; to appoint his own
aids and to nominate all other officers,
subject to senatorial approval.
80 A supreme judicial authority, its
members serving for life.
"a All officers subject to impeach-
ment.
(5) The States to be entirely sub
servient to the National Government
their Governors being appointed by the
National Executive and their laws sub
.
| Hamilton foresaW government by
demagogues, unless something could be
done to tone UP" the Virginia plan. "as
| high as possible" He thought that if
the weak New Jersey plan prevailed the
national representatives would be men
who would not receive more than So a
day from the Government and who
would be overpaid at that rate.
Foreseeing the extent of territory and
| the divergent interests to be embraced
| in the new Government, he expressed
alarm at the outlook. Consider" he
said, what such a State as Virginia
will be in q few years, q few compared
with the life of nations! How strongly
will it feel its importance and self-suf-
flciency!" For solution, he looked to
an adaptation of the British system,
which he regarded as the only govern
ment in the world (which unites pub
lie strength with individual security"
The chief effect of his address was to
strengthen the national sentiment and
to weaken that of~the Federationists
Hamilton, realizing that bis ideas could
not prevail, took little part thereafter
in the convention, retiring TO New York
and only returning to sign the docu-
ment as finally agreed upon by the
delegates. It even seems that he de-
hberately made his demands more re-
dictionary than he himself felt TO be
desirable Ia order to Offset the Neuaz.
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