So James Madison, Rep in Congress for VA, opposed the assumption policy. Though originally a strong federalist himself, authoring the Federalist Papers along w/Hamilton (and a bit from John Jay), and recognized as the reason the US Constitution came to be (tho VA itself was one of the last to ratify and was quite close to denying it), he moved towards less federalism over time, particularly as his devotion to Jefferson grew. He was a major influence in the Congress, and a major reason why Hamilton's policy was denied, multiple times.
However, the issue of where to put the nation's new capital arose, and NYC, Philly and somewhere near Potamac were 3 likely choices. Much wrangling ensued, and a deal struck - the capital on the Potomac (good news for MD and VA), for the assumption policy. Madison and Hamilton were the keys, Madison getting enough votes for assumption, Hamilton getting enough for captial (some northern states of course wanting the capital elsewhere).
But, Madison actually voted against the assumption policy, knowing it would pass anyway. And it passed b/c of his deal behind the scenes. Yet if we were to study his words, and even his actions, at the time, we would think he was against the assumption. Hindsight we know, he actually brought it to pass.
So, from the beginning of this country, we know we could not trust politicians
But really, I found it very interesting, b/c behind the scenes, compromise was brokered, yet Madison (Hamilton was not elected, so keeping votes not as important to him) publicly portrayed a different face in order to keep his constituents happy w/his performance. In essence, lying to them for his own benefit.
I sometimes think half your problems rise from that. The states are perhaps not as united as one would expect them to be. 
