To my country,

I write these words not as a general or a statesman, but as a man whose life has been dedicated to the pursuit of liberty, order, and the building of a nation that might long endure. As I near the dusk of my days, it is not ambition, but duty that compels me to leave behind this testament of thought.

I was born into obscurity, without title, inheritance, or certainty. Yet I was blessed with a mind that hungered for knowledge and a heart that refused to fail. Providence saw fit to deliver me to these shores, and America became the canvas upon which I painted my ideas, fought my battles, and poured my soul.

My service in war taught me the cost of freedom. My service in peace taught me the fragility of unity. I believed that liberty required more than passionate declarations—it demanded discipline, structure, and the rule of law. That is why I championed a Constitution strong enough to bind the states, yet balanced enough to preserve individual rights.

I took pride in building the financial foundations of this republic—not to enrich the few, but to give every citizen the opportunity to rise. I believed commerce, credit, and industry to be the lifeblood of a vigorous nation. Though I was often misunderstood and my ambitions were questioned, I was driven by the permanence of the Union.

To those who succeed me, I urge you to remain vigiliant. The republic is not a self-sustaining machine. It depends on the integrity of its citizens, the wisdom of its leaders, and the courage of its people to defend the truth—even when it is unpopular.

My faults were many, and my passions at times led me astray. But I hope that history will judge me not by the noise of my enemies or the flaws of my nature, but by the clarity of my convictions and the labor of my hands.

Let future generations know: I loved this country with every fiber of my being. I gave it all that I had. And if I am remembered, let it be not for the heights of office, but as a builder of foundations.

Yours in eternal hope for the future,

Alexander Hamilton