Give, therefore, to the first class a distinct permanent share in government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second; and, as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain a good government" (De Conde, p.168). With his faith in that of "the few" in power, Hamilton's greatest fear would be that of rebellion. The chance of an uprising of the lesser common man would prove to destroy his whole thought of a strong government. The idea of corruption of the few did not concern Hamilton, due to the separation of powers granted by the Constitution. He wrote, "Powers must be granted, or civil society cannot exist; the possibility of abuse is no argument against the thing" (Stourzh, p.182). His idea of a strong government influenced his ideological thought in a contrasting way to that of Jefferson's (De Conde, p.168-70). .
As for Jefferson, he believed in a weak central government with preservation of States" Rights, his theories were invested in diffusing the power among the people. Contrasted to Hamilton, Jefferson had a very positive outlook on the nature of man. He believed that man had undeveloped skills that had much room for progress. In the Declaration of Independence he wrote, "All are men created equal." However, he only meant under the eyes of the law. This idea of men being equal and each man's potential was very distinct to of Hamilton's "The Few and the Many." Instead, Jefferson stated, "The sheep are happier of themselves, than under the care of the wolves" (De Conde, 169). With Jefferson's idea of politics, oppression was the greatest fear. To return to the type of political tyranny that the colonies were under with Great Britain would be disastrous. He was in favor in a more democratic republic with power spread among states and local governments, as his faith in the common man was stronger than Hamilton's (De Conde, p.168-9).
