The left's own narrative proves that they are wrong

[regent]

An income tax is not needed to have a debt

No kidding, Sherlock. It’s required to pay off debt.

So how did Hamilton pay off the first debt--no income tax?

Uh....snowflake....Alexander Hamilton was never President of the United States and never paid off the debt.

These programs were funded primarily by a tariff on imports, and later also by a controversial tax on whiskey

While he was Secretary of the Treasury for George Washington (the highest office he ever held), he leveraged tariffs and "sin" taxes. I never cease to marvel at how the left has managed to create the uninformed, uneducated electorate that they need to hold office.

Alexander Hamilton - Wikipedia

I gave you a hint on the state debts of the Revolutionary War with the deal on Washington DC. It was Hamilton's policy to pay off those state debts at full value. Jefferson disagreed, (no, Jefferson was not the president either)