Yes, Hamilton and Adams admired the stratification of English society, but I was speaking of Hamilton’s economic model, which was similar to France’s. The old system of English mercantilism was the direct inspiration for Hamilton, but England was slowly turning toward free markets by the time of ratification and was solidly in the limited government, free market camp during the 19th Century. I referenced France because, instead of following the advice of brilliant economists such as Turgot and Bastiat, France continued with statism, which was similar to the old English mercantilism. Over time, France has consistently played out more along the lines of what Hamilton proposed.
As for the Constitution, Hamilton’s “interpretation” is just the stock in trade of dishonest lawyering. If you think he was providing an honest reading of the Constitution, then we would have to believe “interpretations” such as Marbury, Kelo, Roe,Lawrence, Obergefel, and Wickard were honest readings of the Constitution. Unfortunately, the Federalist Papers, and more important, the plain text of the Constitution and the state ratification debates show otherwise.
I’ve said nothing about Jefferson, although nothing in his administration even remotely compares to the Alien and Sedition Acts. To say he has been criticized for his record on civil liberties is meaningless. If he did something contrary to the express civil liberties provisions of the Constitution, I’d be interested in hearing about it. My intuition, though, that the “criticism” is according to the faux civil liberties views of the left, which have nothing to do with the Constitution. If you would like an example of Jefferson arguably exceeding his powers, I would suggest that his actions during with respect to the Louisiana Purchase could be examined.
You can’t understand actual economic history with reading it. Folsum makes a clear empirical point that is relevant to your claim. You might find it interesting, and the book is quite readable.
Sorry to have gone on at such length...
The old system of English mercantilism was the direct inspiration for Hamilton, but England was slowly turning toward free markets by the time of ratification and was solidly in the limited government, free market camp during the 19th Century. I referenced France because, instead of following the advice of brilliant economists such as Turgot and Bastiat, France continued with statism, which was similar to the old English mercantilism. Over time, France has consistently played out more along the lines of what Hamilton proposed.
That's a lot of speculation. Hamilton didn't have close ties to France and wasn't part of that side of the Enlightenment. You're setting him up as a straw man who would do what you want him to do, but he was much more in the English tradition and followed English trends. England did give birth to free market ideas but British governments didn't give up power completely.
I’ve said nothing about Jefferson, although nothing in his administration even remotely compares to the Alien and Sedition Acts. To say he has been criticized for his record on civil liberties is meaningless. If he did something contrary to the express civil liberties provisions of the Constitution, I’d be interested in hearing about it.
The Embargo and the measures enforcing it went against the libertarian views Jefferson gave lip service to.