In 1813, Thomas Jefferson gave us an example
that modern politicians should learn from.
It’s tough to find politicians who put
constitutional principles
above their own policy agendas.
Generally, when they want to do something, they’ll
find some excuse, no matter what the Constitution says.
But this isn’t something that’s new.
In 1791, Alexander Hamilton led the drive to
charter a national bank.
At the time, Jefferson argued it was
unconstitutional. He wrote: "The incorporation of a
bank, and the powers assumed by this bill, have not,
in my opinion, been
delegated to the United States, by the Constitution."
But over the constitutional objections of Jefferson, along with
James Madison and many others,
Congress still charted the First Bank of the United States.
The bank operated for 20 years, but in 1811,
Jefferson refused to support the drive for a new
bank, and Congress ultimately failed to recharter it.
In a letter to Thomas Law, Jefferson wrote,
"the other idea of creating a National bank, I do not
concur in, because it seems now decided that
Congress has not that power, (altho’ I
sincerely wish they had it exclusively)."
What does that mean?
Even though Jefferson supported the idea
of having a national bank in theory at that time,
he still opposed it in practice because he believed
it violated the Constitution.
