Hamiltonian Mean Time

The enlightenment has lately been getting a bad rap - mostly at the hands of no nothing Trumpists who've declared Dark and dirty unreason is the trend. As described in the new book Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker, there is a case to be made for reason and science, for humanism and progress - it just requires a little thinking.

Among founding fathers were many inspired by the Enlightment ideals. Count among these Alexander Hamilton, perhaps the greatest man to never have become president, and one who met with great tragedy. That aside, His story had a tinge of the Dickensonian.


Hamilton came out of the West Indies. He was not a Negro, as some stories have it. He WAS born out of wedlock, and that was tantamount to negro among detractors of the era...per author Ron Chernow of Alexander Hamilton. 


Reading Hamilton in the portion where he attended the Annapolis convention, the precursor to the constitutional convention. The specter arises of a population that can be aroused by despot.Hamilton so feared the likliness of the despot that he augured for the beneficient kind in terms that seemed monarchical. 

Now to Alexander Hamilton page 232. He goes to the constitutional convention - is very quiet for a long period of time. A discursive period where the two parties - states rightists and federalists - vie, and he, a federalist member of statist delegtion, almost seems to waffle. When he finally speaks, he speaks for six hours straight. His speech shows a yearning for government on par with that of the British. 

He suggests a popularly elected chamber but als one based on something akin to heredity thinly veiled.  It could be said he had some fear of the popular will. It might be surmised his origination as a mistreated outcast from the Caribbean clime caused him to dwell on the darker side of the human populace. 

The convention (but particularly Hamilton)  was perhaps anticipating the French Revolution. The argument he and the founders pursue is one from first principles where architecture is of checks and balances .

Writes Chernow: "Of all the founders, Hamilton probably had the gravest doubts about the wisdom of the masses and wanted elected leaders who would guide them."

"This was the great paradox of his career: his optimistic view of  America's potential coexisted with an essentially pessimistic view of human nature. "

Tho little noted at the time, his constitution convention speech marked him for future abuse. The speech, with its nods to monarchy and filial slavering to Britain, became for his opponents emblematic of a real or secret Hamilton that followed him for the rest of his life. We know the speech through the notes of some of those in attendance, writes Chernow. 

-Jack Vaughan