The  most  important  branch  of  the  subject  was  the  assumption  of
the  State  debts.  Again  the  two  great  parties  divide<l  upon  this  qu»  s-
tion.  Hamilton  and  those  who  thought  with  him  were  in  favor
of  their  assumption.  '  The  opposition,  acting  upon  various  grounds,
but  resting  finally  upon  State  supremacy,  maintained  a  solid  front
not  easily  secured  on  any  less  vital  point.  They  understooil  the  im-
mense cohesive  power  which  lay  in  the  assumption.^  The  Federal
Political  P'^rty  was  in  the  minority ;  but  as  the  special  upholder  of
"*'*****  tiie  new  Government  it  was  the  more  forcible  and  deter-
mined. The  Anti-federal  party  was  in  the  majority;  when  it  could
act  in  concert  it  could  defeat  the  m<»asures  of  the  minority ;  but  the

Jl  veiy  con-

/7)      '    /  C^^^  7  ystitution

{n^i?n.^x^^  cyL^e^^'^^y^yc^Z^e^^   of  the  par.
^^  ^  tv  as  the

Signature  of  Richard  Henry  Lee.
aggivgate
of  representatives  of  various  local  interests,  made  it  lack  cohesion.
