Alexander Hamilton on Harriet

Much has been made of "original intent" with regard to the framers and the constitution. Let's ask one, shall we? Again, the Thinker spares no expense to bring you the news you need. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Mr. Alexander Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton, I must say you're looking quite well for someone long dead.

Hamilton: Thank you, Peter. Normally I wouldn't make such an appearance, but lately I seem to have a real Burr in my saddle.

The Thinker: Ahem, well, anyway, I know your time with us is short, so I just have one question. You helped shape the constitution and the process of presidential appointments. I'm assuming that "Burr" you mentioned is the appointment of the president's personal lawyer to the Supreme Court?

Hamilton: Exactly. But first, one quick thing. I owe you all an apology. You know the national debt? That was my idea. I thought that by placong long-term bonds with our leading citizens, we could tie their interests to those of the new government. Jefferson hated it, but he hated everything until Louisiana. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had no idea, though, that a dimwitted frat boy would plunder the Treasury like a Barbary pirate and then spend like a drunken sailor on credit drawn from the Bank of China!

But anyway, back to Harriet. I addressed this specific issue in Federalist Paper #76. By the way, who came up with that lame title? I suggested "To Kill a Monarchy" or "For Whom the Liberty Bell Tolls," and we end up with "The Federalist Papers." It sounds like we're housetraining Washington's dog, but anyway, let me read it to you. After all, given that I'm dead, my memory isn't so good. Let me skip to the good parts. Why involve the Senate?

"I answer, that the necessity of their concurrence would have a powerful, though, in general, a silent operation. It would be an excellent check upon a spirit of favoritism in the President, and would tend greatly to prevent the appointment of unfit characters from State prejudice, from family connection, from personal attachment, or from a view to popularity....he would be both ashamed and afraid to bring forward, for the most distinguished or lucrative stations, candidates who had no other merit than that of coming from the same State to which he particularly belonged, or of being in some way or other personally allied to him, or of possessing the necessary insignificance and pliancy to render them the obsequious instruments of his pleasure."

Get my point?

The Thinker: Absolutely. You consider the appointment of a personal crony to be an affront to the constitution?

Hamilton: Without a doubt. Well, my time is up. Many thanks, Peter. It's back to New York, if I can be buried there, I can be buried anywhere. By the way, could I borrow ten bucks?