Hamilton

war was on. But now it’s finished.⁠ ⁠… It’s hard we can’t get paid. Good night, sir. Exit Woman, R. Hamilton Turning to Schuyler with a groan. The disgrace of it! The men who won our freedom left to starve! Moving down stage and to fireplace impatiently. Schuyler If Tom Jefferson and those damned Anti-Federalists would let your Assumption Bill go through, why, the soldiers would be paid. Hamilton Walking excitedly across to L. Their opposition to this bill is holding the country in the grip of bankruptcy. Schuyler While Jefferson and Monroe oppose it you’ll never get it through. Hamilton Back of his table, picking up manuscript. I’ll fight for it⁠—I’ll fight for it to the end. Throwing down manuscript and crossing at back to R. You see, father, Jefferson never smelt the smoke of battle. Schuyler No. He prides himself on being a man of peace. All he and his flock do is to go around shouting “States’ Rights.” Hamilton Thomas Jefferson and the Rights of Man! He gets his followers to do the shouting while he writes for posterity. Placing his chair R. of small table. Schuyler Grudgingly. Yes, he writes well. Hamilton Standing R. C. He writes music⁠—the music of well-chosen words. Schuyler And the people listen to him. Hamilton We all listen to Tom Jefferson’s music. He’s like the Pied Piper. He pipes and he pipes, and the people follow spellbound. Schuyler He can certainly pipe. Hamilton Of course there is always the danger that he will lead them into the sea. Schuyler Well, there’s a lot of rats running after him that’d be all the better for drowning. Hamilton There are always rats running up the backstairs trying to nibble their way into office. Enter Zekiel from door up R.; comes down to table C. Schuyler Wouldn’t be if the offices were kept clean. Hamilton Only a strong government can keep the offices clean. This policy of every man for himself is leading the country to anarchy. He is very angry. Zekiel A little alarmed. Reckon I bettah get yo’ some mo’ suppah, Cunnel. Picks up tray. Note: Betsy’s letter is on tray. Be sure to bring it back on tray next time. Schuyler Don’t you get me any more of that damned milk. Zekiel Mebbe I’d jes’ bettah fetch a little in a feedin’ bottle, Gen’l, yah, yah! Exit Zekiel L., laughing. Hamilton laughs and sits R. of table C. Schuyler When Zekiel lied to me this morning and said you were out, I went round to the Exchange Coffee House. Hamilton To get a milk punch? Schuyler To look for you! I saw several of the rats there, and I’m convinced they’re hatching something for you. Hamilton I always associate hatching with chickens, but I dare say rats do it. Well? Schuyler Be on your guard. Jefferson and Monroe are coming to see you about the location of the Capital. Hamilton Unconcerned. Oh, the Residence Bill! Takes out handkerchief. Well, what about it? Schuyler Sitting back; nettled. What about it! Hamilton I mean where do they want the Capital? In Jefferson’s parlor, I suppose. Schuyler That’s just where they do want it. They want the Capital of the United States in the South. My God! Hamilton But⁠—excuse me. Schuyler Fuming. My God! Hamilton Is that the end of your prayer, or the beginning, father? Schuyler The South! Hamilton Well, why not? Schuyler Do you mean to say you’d let the Capital of the United States go to the South? Hamilton Where do you think it should be? Schuyler Where should it be? Why Albany, of course! Hamilton Jumping out of his chair and over to R., laughing heartily. Oh, your home town. Schuyler The finest city on God’s earth! Hamilton Laughs. In your parlor, I suppose. No, General. Certainly not Albany. Sits in chair again. Schuyler Nettled. Oh, certainly not Albany, eh? And why certainly not Albany? I suppose you want it in New York? Zekiel enters L. and crossing at back to door up R. exits. Hamilton New York? Nnn-o⁠— Schuyler Well, in heaven’s name, where do you want it? Hamilton Anywhere that’s handy to get at. Schuyler Well, I’ll be⁠—! Haven’t you any patriotism, man? Hamilton I don’t care where the Capital is, or whether it’s built of marble or whether it’s made of wood, so long as we get the right men inside⁠—to restore law and order to this limping, half-starved government. Schuyler Alexander⁠— Hamilton Puling his chair around to face Schuyler and anticipating amusement. What are the reasons why the Capital should be in the North? Schuyler Why! All the traditions connected with our struggle for independence cluster about the North. Hamilton Ticking it off on his fingers. There’s some truth in that. Schuyler It was here in Philadelphia that the Declaration of Independence was signed. Hamilton Checking on fingers. So it was. Schuyler It was in New York that Washington took the oath of office. Hamilton checks. In New York the government had its beginning. Why, Albany commands the commerce of the four corners of the earth. Hamilton Checking. Hummm! Schuyler And⁠—and there’s not a damned bit of reason why the South should have it anyway. Hamilton But if the North has all the glory of the traditions of the past, isn’t it a good reason why the South should be glorified with the hopes of the future? Schuyler No!⁠ ⁠… Hamilton rises. Hamilton Hasn’t the South, at any rate, as much claim as the North? Schuyler No!⁠ ⁠… Enter Zekiel, R. Hamilton General, your argument is⁠— Zekiel Secatary Jeff’son and Sentah Monroe callin’ to see yo’, sir. Reckon you’s out? Hamilton I reckon I’m in, Zekiel. Schuyler Rising. Now, here they come to talk to you about the Capital, and you’re going to concede it without a struggle. Hamilton Coming to him. Father, you’re the best friend I have in the world, but I daren’t trust you in a matter of diplomacy. That’s no reflection on your intelligence because, you know, diplomacy is frequently only