Hamilton

playing chess; he afterwards sits in the upper corner of settle L. of fireplace. Reynolds strolls up and takes down a pipe from mantel. He chats a moment with a soldier who is sitting L. of table R. The man who was reading the paper goes off R., leaving the paper on settle. Giles Why, the crazy⁠— Jefferson Hush! He’s right, friend, he’s right. Hamilton is a great man, but his energies are misdirected. Rises and moves to C. Giles Great man! Why, he ain’t got half the following you have! Monroe That infernal French aristocrat has put the whole thing in a nutshell. Hamilton and Washington are working against the interests of the individual. They’re working against us. During this Melissa enters from R. with a glass of Madeira, puts it on table L. and then crossing over to post R. C. she hangs a card on it. It is a notice of a ship’s sailing. Reynolds has some business of flirting with her. He slips his arm through hers⁠—she resents and exits L. 2 E. Reynolds goes off up R. Jefferson Come, come, we mustn’t say that. Monroe Well, it’s true! Jefferson That may be, but⁠— Giles Well, what you goin’ t’ do about it! Jefferson To Melissa. Ah, thank you, my dear. He and Monroe drink. As they drink Reynolds flirts with Melissa; see above. Citizen Monroe, I came in the hope of finding you here this morning because I have decided that it is necessary that you and I should make a friendly call upon Alexander Hamilton. During dialogue the two men who have been playing chess rise and consult the card Melissa has hung up. One of them makes some notes; they exchange a few words, bow to each other and go off R. and L. The Quaker remains on settle L. of fireplace reading from a small book. Monroe A friendly call! Jefferson To conciliate him. Monroe With what object? Jefferson We need his cooperation. Sits again. The decision of the location of the Capital of the United States is now a matter of urgent necessity. It is vitally necessary that we should secure the Capital for the South, where our influence is paramount. Monroe Don’t see any need to worry about that. The North hasn’t got any chance anyway. Why, Washington’s a Virginian⁠—if he is under Alexander Hamilton’s thumb. Giles Rising. George Washington ain’t got a damned bit of loyalty in him! Jefferson Come, come! I cannot discuss this matter with you, Citizen Giles, unless you refrain from invective. Giles Well⁠—he’s a Virginian, and yet he is just as interested in New York and Massachusetts as he is in Virginia. It makes me sick. A soldier who has been sitting L. of table R. rises and goes off up R. smiling. Monroe The Capital of the United States doesn’t go to the North as long as James Monroe has a fight in him. Jefferson Let us consider our own position. Hamilton is straining every nerve to pass through Congress his Bill for the Government Assumption of States’ Debts. Reynolds appears at door up R. smoking a pipe. He leans against door a minute, then comes to post R. C. and pretends to be reading the card while he listens. Giles It’s an outrage. Let every state pay its own debts. Monroe Well, we’re blocking that bill, and will continue to block it to the last ditch. Giles sits back of table L. Jefferson Without our cooperation⁠—which we cannot possibly extend⁠—his bill cannot go through. Monroe Then what’s the use of us going to ask favors of him when he knows perfectly well that we are the most active opponents of his bill? Giles I say, fight him. Monroe I believe you’re right, Giles, fight him! Jefferson Coming toward table L. Come, come, Monroe, more flies may be caught with a dish of molasses than with a sea of vinegar. You know you’ve set your heart on being appointed Minister to France. Monroe I have. Jefferson Hamilton’s word will go a long way with Washington. Reynolds turns his head slightly toward them, then picking up paper sits on seat R. of fireplace and reads, removing his hat, which he places beside him. Come, we’ll make a friendly call. Giles Hamilton will fight tooth and nail to have the Capital in New York. Jefferson That may be. Hamilton is a New Yorker. Giles Sneers. Is he? He comes from God knows where. Jefferson Sh⁠—sh! Giles A bastard, born in the⁠— Monroe and Jefferson protest; Jefferson rises. Monroe We don’t need to discuss his arrival into the world, Giles. I am far more interested in his removal. Reynolds turns chair in front of him and puts his feet on it. Jefferson Moving to C. We must be prepared for his opposition to the South⁠— Monroe It will be a lasting disgrace to this country if the Capital is not in Virginia. Jefferson Too remote, Monroe. You see we’ve no post-roads. Inaccessible from New England. Giles Damn it! Ain’t you workin’ for Virginia? Jefferson I’m afraid we cannot hope for Virginia. I believe, though, if we go carefully, there is a chance of getting it for the South. Monroe Where? Jefferson On the Potomac. Giles Well, that’s a damned sight better’n New York. Jefferson Coming back to table. Come, we will call on Hamilton this evening⁠—a friendly call⁠—after supper, perhaps. But remember we must steer clear of any mention of his Bill for the Government Assumption of States’ Debts. Monroe It doesn’t suit me to go begging to Hamilton. Giles He’s got the President wound round his little finger. Monroe And the people trust him. Giles Shake the people’s faith in him, that’s the thing. Reynolds lowers his paper a moment. Jefferson He’s honest, Giles. We’ve tested his honesty. Monroe Yes, the Anti-Federalists have attacked his honesty as Secretary of the Treasury from every possible angle, and he’s always beaten us.