In the annals of American political thought, few phrases are as powerful as one penned by Alexander Hamilton. He wrote, “The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT OF THE PEOPLE. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.” These words capture the essence of a revolutionary idea. They outline a bold vision for a new kind of nation. This quote is more than just a historical artifact; it is a foundational principle of American governance. Understanding its origin and meaning reveals the core arguments that shaped the United States.
The Source: An Argument for a New Constitution
Hamilton wrote this powerful statement in Federalist No. 22, published on December 14, 1787. . The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays. Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote them to persuade New Yorkers to ratify the proposed U.S. Constitution. Hamilton himself authored the majority of the essays. . He used this platform to dismantle arguments against a stronger central government. In Federalist No. 22, he specifically targeted a critical weakness of the Articles of Confederation: the national government’s lack of direct connection to the American people.
Under the Articles, the central government was a creature of the states, not the citizens. Delegates to the Confederation Congress were chosen by state legislatures. The government could not act directly on individuals. It had to go through the state governments. Hamilton saw this as a fatal flaw. He argued that a government that did not rest on the people’s direct consent was illegitimate and weak. His famous quote was the climax of his argument for a government with a popular foundation, as envisioned in the new Constitution.
What Did Hamilton Mean by “American Empire”?
The word “empire” can be jarring to modern readers. It often evokes images of colonial conquest and imperial domination. However, in the late 18th century, the term had a broader meaning. It could refer to any large, sovereign state, particularly one of great scale and complexity. . When Hamilton spoke of an “American empire,” he was not advocating for overseas expansion. Instead, he was envisioning a grand, unified, and powerful republic. He believed the thirteen disparate states needed to unite into a single, formidable nation capable of defending its interests on the world stage.
His use of “empire” was a rhetorical choice to convey size, strength, and permanence. He wanted his readers to think beyond their local state identities. He urged them to embrace the vision of a continental nation. The “fabric” of this great nation, he argued, could not be woven from the weak threads of state agreements. It required the unyielding strength of popular sovereignty. This framing elevated the debate from a simple change in governance to the creation of a lasting and respectable national entity.
The Radical Idea: Consent as the Fountain of Power
The heart of Hamilton’s statement is the principle of “the consent of the people.” This was a direct import from Enlightenment philosophy, most famously articulated by John Locke. . The idea that a government’s right to rule comes from the people it governs was revolutionary. It stood in stark opposition to the dominant systems of the time, such as monarchy based on divine right or aristocracy based on birthright. Hamilton placed this principle at the very center of his argument for the Constitution.
He declared consent to be the “pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority.” This powerful imagery suggests that all other forms of power are impure or illegitimate. National power, he continued, must “flow immediately” from this fountain. The word “immediately” is crucial. Hamilton was arguing against the indirect system of the Articles of Confederation, where power trickled through the state legislatures. The new Constitution, with its House of Representatives elected directly by the people, would create that immediate channel. This direct link would give the new federal government a legitimacy and strength the old one could never possess. It was a government of the people, not just of the states.