Introduction
The creation of the US Constitution was linked with essential progress in the legislation sphere of the country, and the attainment of independence from the British Empire. The US was longer a dominion, but, it was regarded as the independent State, able to perform all the decisions independently. Surely, the performance of such a serious action required professional actions by the people who really knew the aims and clearly realized the purposed of the Constitution.
Alexander Hamilton
To begin with, it is necessary to mention that this personality is worth mentioning due to his personal abilities and skills. The reasons, why he was selected as one of the Framers of the Constitution were numerous. The central one is the fact that he was the practitioner of law and jurisprudence. As Miller (1959) stated in his research, Hamilton was described by his colleagues with the following features: “To a clear and strong judgment he unites the ornaments of fancy, and whilst he is able, convincing, and engaging in his eloquence the Heart and Head sympathize in approving him. Yet there is something too feeble in his voice to be equal to the strains of oratory; he is rather a convincing Speaker than a blazing Orator. Hamilton requires time to think, he enquires into every part of his subject with the searching of philosophy, and when he comes forward he comes highly charged with the interesting matter, there is no skimming over the surface of a subject with him, he must sink to the bottom to see what foundation it rests on.” Hamilton was rather young when the constitution was elaborated (33 years), nevertheless he was highly appreciated as a specialist by the older politicians and Framers.
When the constitution was adopted, Alexander Hamilton served as an assemblyman, representing the New York County in the Legislature of the New York State. The fact is that he was the first delegate, chosen from the state for participating in the Constitutional Convention.
As for the process of negotiations and adoption, Hamilton opposed the Federalist forces and supported the Democratic-Republicans Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. An interesting fact is that the two other delegates from the New York legislature opposed Hamilton. The main reason for the dispute was the goal of a strong national government, thus, all the votes concerning the issues of strong governments were not castes, ass the requirements of the voting process claimed that two representatives minimum could vote, for it was taken into account.
In his further speeches Hamilton offered to have the elected President and elected Senators who, according to Prescott (1976) “would serve for life contingent upon “good behavior”, and subject to removal for corruption or abuse; this idea contributed later to the view of Hamilton as a monarchist sympathizer, held by Madison (secretary of the Convention) and his friends.”
Conclusion
Finally, it is necessary to emphasize that the Framers of the Constitution, though were selected from professionals of legislation and country administration, had different views on the further Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, due to his comparatively young age supported the innovative, which appeared to be rather progressive and liberalistic, even in the circumstances of intensive State development as an independent country.
References
- Frisch, Morton J., ed. Selected Writings and Speeches of Alexander Hamilton. Washington, DC: American Enterprises Institute for Public Policy Research, 2001.
- Hamilton, Allan McLane. The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton: Based Chiefly upon Original Family Letters and Other Documents, Many of Which Have Never Been Published. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1998.
- Miller, John C. Alexander Hamilton: Portrait in Paradox. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1959.
- Prescott, Frederick C., Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson: Representative Selections. New York: American Book, 1976.