Hamilton One-Shots

Slaver, Hey Neighbor

The meeting room was filled with the members of the cabinet, doors closed behind them as everyone settled. Every one of them knew the reason they were gathered there that day. Some thought it preposterous while others had little hope that the petition could grow into anything more, yet here they all were.

"All right!" Washington called over the muttered speech around, silencing the noise with all attention on him. "Thank you all for coming. The issue on the table today: Senator Hamilton's plan to reduce state debt and establish a National Bank. Secretary Jefferson, you have the floor, sir."

Thomas stood and walked out in front of the cabinet and looked to the men gathered in front of him. He inhaled a deep breath as he walked up, and began speaking. "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These are the ideals we fought for in our revolution, for independence, but Hamilton forgets, his plan would have the government assume state debt. And place your bets on who that benefits." He turned to face Hamilton. "The very seat in government in which Hamilton sits."

"Not true!" Hamilton cried out.

He turned back to the rest of the cabinet. "Why should Virginia bear debt that New York has yet to pay? Where I come from, we plant seeds and create product that builds our economy. This financial plan of yours is an outrageous demand and it's too many damn pages for any man to understand." He watched Hamilton silently watch him as spoke. "When Britain taxed out tea we got frisky. Imagine what'll happen when you try to tax our whiskey."

A collected outburst came from the surrounding cabinet members, and Thomas allowed himself a smirk. Hamilton's plan was outrageous, anyone could see that. That's why it would never pass, not now anyway. He took his seat as the voices were overpowered by the President's.

"Thank you, Secretary Jefferson." He looked to Hamilton continuing. "Secretary Hamilton, your response."

Hamilton stood and took the front spot before he began, his words coming at rapid fire. "Thomas, that was a real nice declaration. Welcome to the present, we're running a real nation. Would you like to join us? or stay mellow doing whatever the hell it is you do in Monticello." There was a quick burst from the crowd in response that was quickly stifles as Hamilton started again. "If the nation consumes the debts the union gets, we're giving the country a boost! Would you rather give it a sedative? You lecture me on morals and civics, yet who's the one owning plantations with hundreds of African-Americans as slaves? "We plant seeds and create", keep ranting. We know who's really doing the planting."

Hamilton paused and Thomas felt his expression fall. This man who stood before him, was accusing him of endorsing slavery. The very thing he had been fighting against. His shoulders fell and he heard a quiet voice beside him from James.

"Thomas?"

His sorrow buried deep and was overcome by something else which revived his strong posture and words. "And you would know so much about plantations," he told Hamilton, a man from the north; an immigrant coming from a tiny island country. What does he know?

"I know enough to know that actual people are whipped and worked to death on plantations. People are ripped from their homes and forced to work for no pay and bought and sold as property."

Thomas got to his feet, his fists tight at his sides. "You think I don't know that?" This debate that had been purely about the country's economy (more or less), had turned personal in a second.

"Your ownership of hundred of people who surely debate it!"

"And what do you suggest?" he asked, biting back shouting. "Set them all free to what? Miles upon miles of territory inhabited by people who think them property? Where they will have no access to jobs or homes or any way to support themselves? What do you suggest, Hamilton?"