Thomas Jefferson on the dangers of fiat money

That paper money has some advantages, is admitted. But that its abuses also are inevitable, and, by breaking up the measure of value, makes a lottery of all private property, cannot be denied.  Shall we ever be able to put a constitutional veto on it?

~ Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson
1879

Jared Miller on Alexander Hamilton and the First Bank of the United States

Upon George Washington becoming President of the United States, he appointed Alexander Hamilton as the first Treasury Secretary. As the Secretary of Treasury, his first order of business was to establish a central monetary system and currency. 

The underwriter of what would become the First Bank of the United States was the Bank of New York which Alexander Hamilton conveniently co-owned. The underwriters of the Bank of New York were members of the Bank of England which operated under the auspices of the Crown. Once established in this position, he also supported the creation of a national debt: “A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing.” 

His reasoning, briefly summarized, is that in order for an emerging nation to foster trade with its neighbors and European powers, a line of credit would have to be established. A line of credit would not be possible without a national debt and a consistent history towards paying off that debt (the interest be damned). 

The same elites today (Rothchilds, Rockefellers) own and operate the private Federal Reserve Bank to which our government now owes trillions in un-backed currency, courtesy of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 (an amount far beyond “excessive” as Hamilton originally claimed).

~ Jared Miller, "'The Masses Are Asses': Hamilton Sucks," American Watchmen, July 7, 2020

Alexander Hamilton
1879

Tom DiLorenzo on the political agenda of Henry Clay

When Henry Clay entered national politics in 1811 as a member of Congress, on the eve of the War of 1812 one of his first acts was to try to convince his colleagues to invade Canada, which they did, three times.  He waged a thirty-year political battle with the likes of James Madison, James Monroe, John C. Calhoun, John Randolph, Andrew Jackson, and the other defenders of the Jeffersonian philosophy of limited, decentralized, constitutional government.  Clay was the political heir to Alexander Hamilton and so championed centralized government power driven by political patronage for the benefit of what U.S. Senator John Taylor of Virginia called the "monied aristocracy."

~ Tom DiLorenzo, The Real Lincoln, p. 62

Henry Clay
1873

Private letter from Abraham Lincoln to Alexander Stephens

Do the people of the South really entertain fears that a Republican administration would, directly, or indirectly, interfere with their slaves, or with them, about their slaves?  If they do, I wish to assure you, as once a friend, and still, I hope, not an enemy, that there is no cause for such fears.

The South would be in no more danger in this respect, than it was in the days of Washington.  I suppose, however, this does not meet the case.  You think slavery is right and ought to be extended; while we think it is wrong and ought to be restricted.  That I suppose is the rub.  It certainly is the only substantial difference between us. 

~ Abraham Lincoln, private letter to Alexander H. Stephens (friend and future vice president of the Confederacy), December 22, 1860

Abraham Lincoln
1873

Edgar Lee Masters on the crony capitalism of Henry Clay

[Henry] Clay was the champion of that political system which doles favors to the strong in order to win and to keep their adherence to the government.  His system offered shelter to devious schemes and corrupt enterprises...  He was the beloved son of Alexander Hamilton with his corrupt funding schemes, his superstitions concerning the advantage of a public debt, and a people taxed to make profits for enterprise that cannot stand alone...  The Whigs adopted the tricks of the pickpocket who dresses himself like a farmer in order to move through a rural crowd unidentified while he gathers purses and watches.

~ Edgar Lee Masters, Lincoln the Man (1997), p. 27

(as quoted by Tom DiLorenzo in Hamilton's Curse, pp. 120-121 and The Real Lincoln, pp. 58-59)

Henry Clay
1873

William Seward on Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation

We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where we can set them free.

~ William Seward, U.S. Secretary of State, 1861-1869

William Seward
1873

Alexander Hamilton on limited government

It's not tyranny we desire; it's a just, limited, federal government.

~ Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton
1873

Tom DiLorenzo on the Jeffersonian and Hamiltonian visions for America

Two of the most influential figures in American history. Two opposing political philosophies. Two radically different visions for America.

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton were without question two of the most important Founding Fathers. They were also the fiercest of rivals. Of these two political titans, it is Jefferson—–the revered author of the Declaration of Independence and our third president—–who is better remembered today. But in fact it is Hamilton’s political legacy that has triumphed—–a legacy that has subverted the Constitution and transformed the federal government into the very leviathan state that our forefathers fought against in the American Revolution.

~ Tom DiLorenzo, Hamilton's Curse

Alexander Hamilton
1873

Winfield Scott on the fourth choice available to Lincoln to deal with Southern secession

Say to the seceded States — wayward sisters, depart in peace!

~ Winfield Scott, letter to William H. Seward, March 3, 1861

Winfield Scott
1873

Thomas Jefferson on public debt

I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers to be feared.

To preserve our independence we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt... We must make our choice between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude.

~ Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson
1873

Franklin on war and peace

There never was a good war or a bad peace.

~ Benjamin Franklin, Letter to Josiah Quincy (September 11, 1773)

Benjamin Franklin
1873

Thomas Jefferson on conquest (1790)

Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.

~ Thomas Jefferson, instructions to William Carmichael

Thomas Jefferson
1873

Franklin on the costs of war

Wars are not paid for in wartime, the bills come later.

~ Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin
1873