evidence: As one of the largest slave owners in Virginia, Jefferson frequently engaged in human trafficking. He enslaved more than 700 people, physically disciplining those he deemed incompetent. The brutal treatment he enacted upon other human beings demonstrated his utter disregard for the rights of others. [...] Around centralized banking, the Democratic-Republican party tended to rely on the notion that the "government that governs least governs best." This was certainly Jefferson’s sentiment when it came to banking. As Secretary of State under George Washington, Jefferson outwardly criticized the federal banking system and its intention to assume state debts. [...] One of the elements that defines a great president is their management of the government. Jefferson’s wavering and unstable system undoubtedly contradicts this belief. Originally, he aspired to create a limited federal government. In fact, the credo of his party was "The government that governs best, governs least." Jefferson believed in local self-government, and thought that the government should step lightly in affairs that were not their own. During his presidency, he took many steps to limit federal power. One of these steps was reducing the amount of government employees and abolishing the army and navy.