The administration of private justice between the citizens…
“The administration of private justice between the citizens of the same state, the supervision of agriculture and of other concerns of a similar nature, all those things in short which are proper to be provided for by local legislation, can never be desirable cares of a general jurisdiction . . . the attempt to exercise these powers would be as troublesome as it would be nugatory; and the possession of them, for that reason, would contribute nothing to the dignity, to the importance, or to the splendour of the national government.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Hamilton argues that local matters like private justice and agriculture should be handled by state, not federal, government to preserve national dignity.
In simple terms: Local issues belong to state control, not national.
Key Takeaway
Leave local governance to states.
Themes
federalism
local governance
jurisdiction
government structure
Mood
analytical
concerned
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- state courts
- agricultural policy
- municipal regulation
- local infrastructure projects
Key Concepts
subsidiarity
constitutional limits
division of power
Questions to Reflect On
- Should the federal government ever intervene in local matters?
- How does local control benefit citizens?
A Different Perspective
National government may overreach and stifle local autonomy.