think that such considerations ever swayed his course. He treated the question not as one of personal preference, but as one involving the chances of good government. In deciding this question he may have erred, and few in our country can deny or seriously doubt that he did greatly err; but it was a question that he had a right to entertain, more especially at the formation of the Government, and one in respect to which, his opinion having been honestly formed, error could not fairly be made the subject of reproach. CHAPTER IV. Excitement of the Public Mind caused by Hamilton's Measures--Great Men brought thus into the Political Field--The Preponderance of leading Politicians and Commercial Classes on the side of Hamilton--Not so with the Landed Interest--Character of Farmers and Planters of the United States--Position of the Landed Interest toward the Anti-Federal Party and toward Hamilton's System--Success in maintaining its Principles greater in the Southern than in the Northern States and the Causes thereof--The Landed Interest the Fountain of the old Republican Party--Course of that Party toward Washington and his Administration--Decline of the Federal Party--Hamilton's Course in the Convention the most Brilliant and Creditable of his Political Career--His Candor and Devotion to Principle on that Occasion--His subsequent Loss of the Confidence of the Friends of Republican Government--Coincidences and Contrasts in the Public Lives of Hamilton and Madison--Their several Contributions in the First Congress to the Promotion of the Financial Branch of the Public Service--The Fate and the Fruits of each--The Country chiefly indebted to them for the Constitution--Their Treatment of it after its Adoption not the same--The Provision authorizing Amendments necessary to save the Constitution from Rejection--Memorials from New York and Virginia--Dread of a New Convention on the Part of the Federalists--Madison's Amendments--Consequences of their Adoption--Character of Madison's Statesmanship--Different Courses of Hamilton and Madison on Questions of Constitutional Power--Unconstitutionality of Hamilton's Measures--His Consciousness thereof--His Sense of the Obligations of Public Men--His View of the Constitution as "a Temporary Bond of Union"--Subsequent Change of Opinion, but Final Return in 1802 to his Original View--Separation between him and Madison--"Sapping and Mining Policy" of Hamilton--That Policy counteracted by the Republican Party--Discrimination between Washington and Hamilton in the Adoption of the latter's Policy--Probable Ground of Washington's Official Approval of the Bank Bill--Subsequent similar Position and Conduct of Madison--Instances of a like Transcending of Constitutional Limits under a supposed Necessity, by Jefferson