I, Thomas Jefferson, have always been a true constructionist leader with respect to the stern stance and interpretation of the constitution as the President of the United States of America. However, the ethical and moral dilemma that I have been facing currently is regarding stretching beyond the realms of constitutional rights of a President to authorize a land purchase deal with the French government for the state of Louisiana for $15 million. My most confusing ethical dilemma comes in terms of choosing between the lucrative deal by adding almost all of the land between the Mississippi river and the Rocky Mountains to the United States territory and the issue of increasing the federal government’s power to go beyond the constitutional framework. I have to authorize the government to have an active position with higher powers to undergo the transaction of Louisiana Purchase deal and in doing so I will be compromising my republican principles of upholding the constitutionalism in all situations.
In terms of my personal values and ethics, an ideal republican President should limit the states’ rights and strict constructionist approach should reduce the federal control by cutting short its reach and control over different matters. The moral issues underlying the problem are regarding the fact that the legislative wing of the government is not ready to sanction the purchase as they were neither involved nor opinionated on any of the bargains with the French government. On the other hand, the entire treaty and the legal memorandum of understanding pertaining to the purchase have been fully carried out by the executive branch. Thus, instead of limiting the autonomous powers of the federal government, this purchase deal requires more delimitation of the states’ rights which is against my Republican values.
Bibliography
Balleck Barry. “When the ends justify the means: Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase” Presidential Studies Quarterly,679-68. Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, 2010.
