What did Alexander Hamilton mean in Federalist Papers #85 by "the want of a council?

Answer 1

This was the concluding Federalist Paper and in it Alexander Hamilton attempts to wrap up the case to ratify the newly proposed Constitution. He intently believed in the concept of, and the need for, a constitution and the ensuing national government. In the final paragraph the intensity of his feelings came through with the following:

“A nation without a national government is, in my view, an awful spectacle. The establishment of a Constitution, in time of profound peace, by the voluntary consent of a whole people, is a prodigy. To the completion of which I look forward with trembling anxiety.”

With the intensity of his commitment he continues the goal of the Federalist Paper 84 which is the addressing of several miscellaneous objections (to the proposed constitution.) Your question addresses a small segment of the Hamilton quote from paragraph two, which is in its entirety: “ . . . . It is remarkable that the resemblance of the plan of the convention to the act which organizes the government of this State (note: he is referring to New York) holds, not less with regard to many of the supposed defects than to the real excellences of the former. Among the pretended defects are the re-eligibility of the executive, the want of a council, the omission of a formal bill of rights, the omission of a provision respecting the liberty of the press. . . . “

Clearly, within the context of this quote and the meaning of the words of, “the want of a council,” it is the leaving out of a council from the constitution to which there has been objection. Even so, what is the meaning (by the people of that time as well as Hamilton) of the word ‘council’. What is it that people believe is being left out.

The various meanings and usage of the word council are:

council –noun
1. an assembly of persons summoned or convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice.
2. a body of persons specially designated or selected to act in an advisory, administrative, or legislative capacity: the governor's council on housing.
3. (in certain British colonies or dependencies) an executive or legislative body assisting the governor.
4. an ecclesiastical assembly for deciding matters of doctrine or discipline
5. New Testament. the Sanhedrin or other authoritative body

[Origin: 1125–75; ME co(u)nsile < AF cuncil(e), OF concile < LL concilium synod, church council (L: assembly), prob. equiv. to L con- CON- + -cil(āre), comb. form of calāre to summon, convoke + -ium -IUM; ME -s- by assoc. with AF cunseil COUNSEL ]

It should be kept in mind that in the times of the Founding, there was fear of an over extending chief executive. In such a context a council would most likely take on the attributes of definition 3, “(in certain British colonies or dependencies) an executive or legislative body assisting the governor.” This becomes more likely when it is understood that people of that time were familiar with such a use of Council. It is this that Hamilton is addressing and, a function of government for which he saw no need in the context of the proposed constitution.

Answer 2

Federalist Paper 85