Alexander Hamilton Papers
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From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, 14 February 1783

To George Clinton

Philadelphia, Feb’y 14th, 1783.

Sir,

In a letter which I wrote lately to General Schuyler,1 I informed him of the import of the answer from Vermont, and what had been done with it in Congress.2 The Committee to whom it was referred have not yet reported; but I have little expectation of decision.

Congress have been for some time employed on matters of the 1st. importance, devising a plan for carrying the 8th. Article of the Confederation into execution, and for funding all the debts of the United States. General principles with respect to the 1st. object have been agreed upon, and are referred to a Committee to be digested into form. The plan is crude, and will be opposed in its last stage, but perhaps it will be adopted by a majority. With respect to funds we have made little progress, and from the turn of the debates, I have not sanguine hopes of proper measures. Whenever any thing has been matured it will be communicated to the State.

I congratulate your Excellency on the strong prospect of peace which the late speech of the British King3 affords. I hope the conclusion of the war may not be the prelude of civil commotions of a more dangerous tendency. It is to be suspected the Army will not disband, till solid arrangements are made for doing it justice; and I fear these arrangements will not be made.

In this position of things it will be wise in the State of New York to consider what conduct will be most consistent with its safety and interest. I wish the Legislature would set apart a tract of territory, and make a liberal allowance to every officer and soldier of the Army at large who will become a citizen of the State. A step of this kind would not only be politic in the present posture of affairs, but would embrace important future consequences. It is the first wish of my heart that the Union may last; but feeble as the links are, what prudent man would rely upon it? Should a disunion take place, any person who will cast his eye upon the map will see how essential it is to our State to provide for its own security. I believe a large part of the Army would incline to sit down among us, and then all we shall have to do will be to govern well.

These are loose but important ideas. I wish they may occur with their full weight to those who have it in their power to turn them to account. At present I mean them merely for your Excellency’s consideration.

I have the honor to be Yr. Excellency’s most obedt. servt.

A. Hamilton

This letter by mistake has been delayed.

Sparks Transcripts, Harvard College Library.

1H’s letter to Philip Schuyler has not been found.

2On December 5, 1782, after years of fruitless debate, Congress adopted a resolution denouncing the action of Vermont “as highly derogatory to the authority of the United States” and ordering that complete restitution should be made to those whose property Vermont officials had seized. The United States, according to the resolution, would “take effectual measures to enforce a compliance” with its orders. See “Motion on Vermont,” December 5, 1782. On February 4, 1783, Governor Thomas Chittenden replied that Vermont would not accept the orders of Congress.

3The speech was George III’s opening speech to the third session of the Fifteenth Parliament on December 5, 1782. Concerning peace with the American colonies the King said:

“… I have pointed all my views and measures, as well in Europe as in North America, to an entire and cordial reconciliation with those colonies.

“Finding it indispensable to the attainment of this object, I did not hesitate to go the full length of the powers vested in me, and offered to declare them free and independent states, by an article to be inserted in the treaty of peace. Provisional articles are agreed upon, to take effect whenever terms of peace shall be finally settled with the court of France.” (The Parliamentary History of England [London, 1814], XXIII, 206.)

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