Federalist No. 30

Federalist No. 30 is an essay by Alexander Hamilton, the thirtieth of the Federalist Papers. It was published on December 28, 1787 under the pseudonym Publius, the name under which all the Federalist Papers were published. This is the first of seven essays by Hamilton on the then-controversial issue of taxation. It is titled, "Concerning the General Power of Taxation."

Brief Precis

Hamilton details that taxes are extremely important to our government. The power to collect taxes deemed necessary is crucial for the government, and few deny that. Hamilton then details the differences between internal and external taxes. He argues that the federal government needs a power of taxation equal to its necessities, both present and future. External taxes alone cannot provide enough revenue for a government as extensive as the one proposed, especially in a time of war.

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