future, to teach contending parties the importance of giving both votes to men fit for the first office.
ⅭⅭⅩⅭⅡ. Alexander Hamilton’s Proposals in the Federal Convention.[1]
A subsequent misstatement of his course in the convention, drew forth a voluntary publication from Luther Martin. “That Hamilton in a most able and eloquent address, did express his general ideas upon the subject of government, and of that government which would in all human probability be most advantageous for the United States, I admit; but, in thus expressing his sentiments, he did not suggest a wish that any one officer of the government should derive his power from any other source than the people; that there should be in any instance an hereditary succession to office, nor that any person should continue longer than during good behaviour.”
Another publication appeared, charging him with having proposed a monarchy to the convention. This was denied, and it was replied, that “he proposed a system composed of three branches, an assembly, a senate, and a governor. That the assembly should be elected by the people for three years, and that the senate and governor should be likewise elected by the people during good behaviour.”
In answer to this publication, Hamilton published a full explanatory view of the propositions made by him.
“Thus the charge,” he said, “is at length reduced to specific terms. Before it can be decided, however, whether this would be a monarchy or a republic, it seems necessary to settle the meaning of those terms. …
Were we to attempt a correct definition of a republican government, we should say, ‘That is a republican government, in which both the executive and legislative organs are appointed by a popular election, and hold their offices upon a responsible and defeasible tenure.’ If this be not so, then the tenure of good behavior for the judicial department is anti-republican, and the government of this state is not a republic; if the contrary, then a government would not cease to be republican because a branch of the legislature, or even the executive, held their offices during good behaviour. In this case the two essential criteria would still concur—the creation of the officer by a popular election, and the possibility of his removal in the course of law, by accusation before, and conviction by, a competent tribunal.
- ↑ J.C. Hamilton, History of the Republic of the United States, Ⅲ, 341–343.
