Great Issues in American History, Volume 2 by Richard Hofstadter

Author:Richard Hofstadter
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780307809704
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2011-11-15T21:00:00+00:00

DOCUMENT 2

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, CAMILLUS, NUMBERS I AND II,

1795

The Camillus letters were recognized, even by Hamilton’s foes, to be an effective defense of a treaty that needed much defending. As Jefferson wrote to Madison: “Hamilton is really a colossus to the anti-republican party. Without numbers, he is a host within himself.… We have had only middling performances to oppose him. In truth, when he comes forward, there is nobody but yourself who can meet him.… For God’s sake take up your pen, and give a fundamental reply to … Camillus.”

No. I

It was to have been foreseen, that the treaty which Mr. Jay was charged to negotiate with Great Britain, whenever it should appear, would have to contend with many perverse dispositions and some honest prejudices; that there was no measure in which the government could engage, so little likely to be viewed according to its intrinsic merits—so very likely to encounter misconception, jealousy, and unreasonable dislike. For this, many reasons may be assigned.

It is only to know the vanity and vindictiveness of human nature, to be convinced, that while this generation lasts there will always exist among us men irreconcilable to our present national Constitution; embittered in their animosity in proportion to the success of its operations, and the disappointment of their inauspicious predictions. It is a material inference from this, that such men will watch, with lynx’s eyes, for opportunities of discrediting the proceedings of the government, and will display a hostile and malignant zeal upon every occasion, where they think there are any prepossessions of the community to favor their enterprises. A treaty with Great Britain was too fruitful an occasion not to call forth all their activity.

It was known, that the resentment produced by our revolution war with Great Britain had never been entirely extinguished, and that recent injuries had rekindled the flame with additional violence. It was a natural consequence of this, that many should be disinclined to any amicable arrangement with Great Britain, and that many others should be prepared to acquiesce only in a treaty which should present advantages of so striking and preponderant a kind as it was not reasonable to expect could be obtained, unless the United States were in a condition to give the law to Great Britain, and as, if obtained under the coercion of such a situation, could only have been the short–lived prelude of a speedy rupture to get rid of them.…

It was not to be mistaken, that an enthusiasm for France and her revolution, throughout all its wonderful vicissitudes, has continued to possess the minds of the great body of the people of this country; and it was to be inferred, that this sentiment would predispose to a jealousy of any agreement or treaty with her most persevering competitor,—a jealousy so excessive, as would give the fullest scope to insidious arts to perplex and mislead the public opinion. It was well understood, that a numerous party among us, though disavowing the design, because the avowal would defeat it,

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