Hamilton’s war against Congress lasted pretty much his entire life. It began during the Revolutionary War, and he fired off letter after letter to officials and politicians, criticizing Congress’ mishandling of the Army. He wrote a letter (one of many) to George Clinton about Congress (excerpt quoted below – Hamilton is only 23 years old here) – This letter launched his war. It was always a war to him. A war of words.
Folly, caprice, a want of foresight, comprehension and dignity characterize the general tenor of their actions. Of this, I dare say, you are sensible, though you have not, perhaps, so many opportunities of knowing it as I have. Their conduct with respect to the army especially is feeble, indecisive and improvident. We are reduced to a more terrible situation than you can conceive …
At this very day there are complaints from the whole line of three or four days without provisions. Desertions have been immense and strong features of mutiny begin to show themselves … If effectual measures are not speedily adopted, I know not how we shall keep the army together. I omit saying anything of the want of clothing.
American once had a representation [in Congress] that would do honor to any age or nation. The present falling off is very alarming and dangerous. What is the cause? How is it to be remedied? The great men who composed our first council — are they dead, have they deserted the cause, or what has become of them? Very few are dead and still fewer have deserted the cause … They are either in the field or in the offices of the respective states. The only remedy is to return them to the place where their presence is infinitely more important.
A strong chord struck here – a harbinger of things to come: The states needed to give back their power and submit to a strong central government. The states needed to stop thinking of themselves as Virginians, Rhode Islanders, what-have-you. They needed to start thinking of themselves as Americans.