Alexander Hamilton concludes his series of essays on the powers of the proposed government, and on the taxing power in particular, in Federalist No. 36, about to hand off the identity of Publius to James Madison. In an essay tying up loose ends regarding the forms of taxes and the collection thereof, Hamilton concludes that he has now examined those powers of the government “which relate more peculiarly to its energy, and to its efficiency for answering the great and primary objects of union.” He is sure that the “candid and judicious part of the community” has been brought a long way toward supporting the Constitution. His final sentence is this:
“Happy will it be for ourselves, and most honorable for human nature, if we have wisdom and virtue enough, to set so glorious an example to mankind!”
Earlier in these brief commentaries, I have mentioned James Ceaser’s wise recent book, Nature and History in American Political Development, which reminds us to be alert to lines like this one. Hamilton believes there is a fixed human nature, the same everywhere and at all times, whose contours and characteristics are accessible to human reason. He is mindful of America’s historical situation, and knows that the institutions of any free society must be adapted to its own peculiar circumstances. But why aspire to set an example to mankind–a glorious one, no less–if the conditions of freedom cannot in principle be established everywhere, for all peoples?
(For explanation of this recurring feature, see here.)