“From his letter, it is clear that he did not recognize the supremacy of federal over state law, a cardinal tenet of the Constitution: The power of erecting banks and corporations was not given to the general government; it remains then with the state itself. For any person to recognize a foreign legislature [Jefferson was talking about the U.S. Congress] in a case belonging to the state itself is an act of treason against the state. And whosoever shall do any act under color of the authority of a foreign legislature—whether by signing notes, issuing or passing them, acting as director, cashier or in any other office relating to it, shall be adjudged guilty of high treason and suffer death accordingly by the judgment of the state courts. This is the only opposition worthy of our state and the only kind which can be effectual. . . . I really wish that this or nothing should be done.30 [Italics added.] In other words, the principal author of the Declaration of Independence was recommending to the chief architect of the U.S. Constitution that any Virginia bank functionary who cooperated with Hamilton’s bank should be found guilty of treason and executed. Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton (p. 354). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Chernow, Ron. Alexander Hamilton (p. 354). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. ”
