IN THIS SHORT PAPER, HAMILTON ARGUES THAT A UNION WILL BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE THAN A SYSTEM OF MULTIPLE AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTIES. IF AMERICA WERE TO BE DIVIDED INTO THIRTEEN INDEPENDENT STATES, OR SOME SMALLER NUMBER OF CONFEDERACIES, EACH POLITY WOULD HAVE TO EMPLOY ITS OWN “CIVIL LIST,” OR BUREAUCRACY, TO MANAGE PUBLIC AFFAIRS. EACH STATE WOULD FURTHERMORE HAVE TO EMPLOY PEOPLE TO GUARD ITS BORDERS AGAINST ILLICIT TRADE AND AN ARMY TO DEFEND AGAINST INVASION. ALL THESE EXPENSES WOULD PROVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT AND UNNECESSARY BURDEN TO EACH SOVEREIGNTY’S ECONOMY.
IN CONTRAST, UNITED AMERICA WOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE DO WITH A SINGLE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, A SINGLE ARMY, AND A SINGLE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR CATCHING SMUGGLERS. THIS WOULD REDUCE WASTE AND INEFFICIENCY. HAMILTON POINTS TO THE EXAMPLE OF GREAT BRITAIN’S GOVERNMENT TO ARGUE THAT A SINGLE, WELL-STRUCTURED, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT COULD EASILY BE EXTENDED TO COVER LARGE SWATHS OF TERRITORY AND BIG POPULATIONS.