![]() The support of the Constitution of the United States. The support of the Christian religion.Ģd. Let an association be formed to be denominated “The Christian Constitutional Society.” Its objects to be:ġst. ![]() To preserve the Constitution against the attacks of their political opponents, the Democratic-Republicans, Hamilton argued for a new political organization: By these general views of the subject have my reflections been guided. Under its banners, bona fide, must we combat our political foes, rejecting all changes but through the channel itself provides for amendments. In my opinion, the present Constitution is the standard to which we are to cling. Not surprisingly, Hamilton was most interested in defending the Constitution: To rally popular support, then, Hamilton hoped to link Americans’ defense of the Constitution with their sense of defending Christianity. But, Hamilton insisted, the Federalists needed to “carry along with us some strong feelings of the mind.” Otherwise, he didn’t believe the Federalists would produce “any substantial or durable results.” He believed some emotional appeals would be necessary, since “Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.” Federalists had been relying “so much on the rectitude and utility of their measures as to have neglected the cultivation of popular favor, by fair and justifiable expedients.” In other words, they had argued the logic and rightness of their cause without convincing people’s hearts. Hamilton was advocating for greater organization to rally potential supporters to the Federalist side. In 1802, Hamilton wrote to James Bayard to propose a “Christian Constitutional Society.” This letter is interesting in its own right and for what it suggests about attitudes of the Federalist Party after Thomas Jefferson had become President. Still, in his last decade, Hamilton also called for a greater connection of public faith and organized political activity. In between those periods, during Hamilton’s ambitious public career, there is much less expression of either practice or belief. The knocks of a contentious public life and the death of a son–in a duel, no less–led him to a stronger participation in Trinity Episcopal Church in Manhattan. Near the end of his life, Hamilton also expressed increasingly pious sentiments. In fact, Hamilton was scheduled to attend college at Princeton–where he would have studied under John Witherspoon–until he realized that he could finish a year sooner by attending King’s College in New York (now Columbia). As a young man, Hamilton interpreted events in a strongly providentialist vein, and his writing about a Caribbean Hurricane brought him to the attention of American colonial Presbyterians. They were most on display early and late. Without going as far as Adair, I think we can see elements of faith in Hamilton’s life.
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