To Alexander Hamilton from David Ross, [23 July 1793]
From David Ross
[Bladensburgh, Maryland, July 23, 1793]
Dear Sir
Your “Democratic Society”1 with whatever good ⟨in⟩tentions it may be instituted by some yet I fear ⟨oth⟩ers may wish and hope to give it the conse⟨que⟩nce & power of a Jacobin Club—indeed the ⟨ver⟩y name of the Society holds out an idea to ⟨th⟩e People of America that there are such defects ⟨in⟩ our Government as to require an association to guard against them and will of course become the Standard for the Anti’s to resort to, to effect their purposes. Therefore as I feel myself very much interested in preventing its extension to this State I take the liberty to request of you to suggest the most proper & effectual means—for many who are now warm federalists if they should unthinkingly become of the Society may from a false pride desert their present principles rather than a Society they had publickly attached themselves to—& if the Society should acquire a consequence in the States, that consequence may hereafter suggest objects that have not, yet, entered the thoughts of any one of them.
If you should not have leasure enou⟨gh⟩ to gratify my request I hope you will hav⟨e⟩ sufficient to procure & enclose me all the Papers pro & con on the subjects of the Pieces signed “Pacificus”2 of which I have only seen one.
I have not heard of or from Co. Mercer since my last Publication & I sincerely hope you will think his character sufficiently exposed to prevent the necessity of taking that notice of him and his charges3 which the laws of honour might otherwise require and that you will conclude an acquittal by your Country the next Congress sufficient as it will be considered so by every one whose good opinion you would wish to retain. I am Sir
Your friend & obedt Servt
David Ross
July 23. 1793
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. In the spring of 1793 a number of so-called “Republican” or “Democratic” societies were formed in major cities in the United States by friends of France and opponents of the Federalists. The first such society was the German Republican Society, founded in Philadelphia in March or April. In May, the Norfolk and Portsmouth Republican Society was established in Virginia, and in the following month the Democratic Society of Pennsylvania was organized in Philadelphia. It is the last-named organization to which Ross is referring. Consisting of such prominent Philadelphia residents as David Rittenhouse, Dr. George Logan, Charles Biddle, and Alexander J. Dallas, the Democratic Society of Pennsylvania proved to be the most influential of the Democratic societies in the United States.
2. The “Pacificus” articles, which were written by H, are dated June 29, July 3, 6, 10, 13–17, 17, 27, 1793.
3. For the dispute with John F. Mercer and Ross’s part in it, see the introductory note to H to Mercer, September 26, 1792.