Thomas Jefferson's Diverse Response to Alexander Hamilton's Death

Thomas Jefferson's reaction to the death of his political adversary, Alexander Hamilton, is a complex amalgamation of emotional, political, and personal nuances. Despite the animosity between the two from the political sphere, Jefferson's response to Hamilton's death on July 11, 1804, reveals a mixture of relief, respect, and sophistication in dealing with one's political foe.

Respect and Acknowledgment

Jefferson's response to Hamiliton's death was marked by a sense of respect and acknowledgment of Hamilton's contributions. In a letter to his friend John Dickinson, Jefferson observed:

Hamilton’s death is a great loss to the country. But no man can now restore him to it. He was a great and good man: perhaps the greatest character of the [American] revolution.'

This statement, while brief, indicates a recognition of Hamilton's significance as a founding father and his political acumen. Jefferson's perspective suggests that despite their political disagreements, Hamilton's talents and contributions were acknowledged and valued.

Mixed Emotions and Political Calculation

Jefferson's response to Hamilton's death was not purely affectionate. He was clearly relieved that a political opponent was no longer active, but this relief was tempered by a desire to maintain a certain level of respect and politeness. In another letter to John Adams, Jefferson noted:

Both he [Hamilton] and I were infected with the Hamiltonian Influenza. There were in us perhaps the germs of a scarce less deadly malady. We might both have been able to cure each other, because we could not help infecting each other.

This remark suggests that Jefferson viewed himself and Hamilton as political rivals, but also as individuals who fed each other's animosity. Jefferson was pragmatic and did not exult in Hamilton's death, but rather remained consistent in his desire to maintain a dignified stance in public discourse.

Shared Values and Disagreements

Jefferson's relationship with Hamilton was intricate, characterized by a mix of respect, disagreement, and mutual admiration. In a dinner conversation recorded in 1791, Jefferson, as Secretary of State, Hamilton, as Secretary of the Treasury, Knox, as Secretary of War, and Adams, as Vice President, discussed the British constitution.

During this conversation, Jefferson recounted Hamilton’s view that:

[P]urge it of its corruption and give to its popular branch equality of representation and it would be an impractical government: as it stands at present, with all its supposed defects, it is the most perfect government which ever existed.

Jefferson interpreted Hamilton's words as a reflection of his monarchist leanings and his belief in a more aristocratic form of governance. Jefferson noted:

Hamilton was not only a monarchist, but for a monarchy bottomed on corruption. Alexander Hamilton in his final letter wrote that our real Disease . . . is Democracy. To bolster his point, he also called it a “poison.”

This highlights the differing views on the nature of governance and the role of democracy, reflecting the deep-rooted ideological differences between Jefferson and Hamilton.

Conclusion

Thomas Jefferson's response to Alexander Hamilton's death was a balancing act of personal and political considerations. While he acknowledged Hamilton's contributions, he also reflected the political pragmatism that dominated his approach to governance. This nuanced response underscores the complexity of their relationship and the multifaceted nature of their interactions during the formative years of the American republic.