The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-01-12
Alexander Hamilton

Most of us think of Alexander Hamilton only as the
young and brilliant financier whose life suddenly was
terminated in a duel with Aaron Burr, then vice presi-
dent of the United States.
In calling attention to the 174th birthday of one of
our foremost revolutionary heroes, however, the George
Washington bi-centennial commission points out that
Hamilton was vastly more than q financial wizard. He
was a genius also in the professions of arms, law and
craftsmanship.
During the Revolutionary war he became captain Of
an artillery company when 10 years old and later was
attached to General Washingtons staff. Longing for an
independent command, he seized upon a slight repri-
mand by Washington for ~resigning his staff position and
induced Washington to give him a regiment of his own.
AS its leader he served with bravery and distinction.
When Hamilton became secretary of the treasury, he
found there was a great mass of work to be done in Or
ganizing the collecting and disbursing force throughout
the country. Congress Immediately submitted to him a
number of queries and problems for solution, and there
came forth from his pen a succession OF papers that have
left their strong imprint on the administrative organiza-
ton Of the national government.
Among them were two reports on the public credit,
unfolding an ideal of national honor higher than the
prevalent popular principles; a report on manufactures,
advocating theil encouragement; a report favoring the
establishment of a national bank, the arguments being
based on implied powers" in the constitution and on
the applications that congress can do anything that
can be made, through the medium of money, to sub
serve the general welfare of the United States. Hamil-
toms doctrines. through judicial interpretation, have
revolutionized the constitution. The success of his fl
nancial measures was immediate and remarkable.
Hamilton's plan, to establish a national bank resem-
bling in great measure the Bank of England, aroused
as great an interest in congress as the proposal to as
sumo the state debts had brought forth. The project
was finally passed by both houses in practically the
fornl that Hamilton had suggested and came before
President Washington for approval on February IA, 1871.
So heated had been the debates in the house on the
conStitutionality of a United States bank, that the presi-
dent felt doubts as to the power of congress to in
corporate such an institution. He called upon his four
cabinet members for their opinions. Hamilton, and
Knox, secretary of war, favored the bank; Jefferson
and Randolph, attorney general, opposed. Hamilton,
jefferson and Randolph submitted written reports to
the president.
Those written by Jefferson and Hamilton remain to
this day among the most important expositions Of our
constitutional law and practice. Hamilton'S arguments
convinced Washington of the constitutional %propriety Of
the measure, which he finally approved.
More than anyone else. perhaps, Hamilton is respon-
siblc for our present financial system and for develop
ment Of America into a great commercial and in
dustrial nation. It was he who laid the foundation,
even though he died at an age when most men have not
yet begun to do their best work.