To Alexander Hamilton from Philip Schuyler, 25 January 1795
From Philip Schuyler
New York Sunday Jan: 25th 1795
My Dear Sir
Since my last1 there has been a full meeting of friends, In which I declared that I hoped every Gentleman who had a feeling for my reputation, would Vote for Mr King.2 If the adverse party should propose me, that I was determined at all events, If elected instantly to resign, and that in such an event all wished the reelection of Mr. King, that the other party I was well informed had changed their ground and then contemplated a Gentleman present in the room. The propriety of my determination was acceeded to by every person present. Mr. Jones3 then got up, and Observed that he believed It was he that was alluded to by me. He knew our opponents had him in contemplation, that he was determined to discountenance their views and that he would decidely vote for Mr King. The question was then put and all unanimously agreed to support Mr. King.
In the Assembly we shall certainly have 35 for Mr. King, and If one of the Albany members arrives in time then 36, and we have good grounds to hope for An Accession of two from the other side of the Question, but as 35 is a majority of three, without the Absent Albany members, two of which being dead all is safe thereby. Mr Powers4 will not be here hence we shall stand In Senate 12 for to 11 against. I hinted to Mr. King that I apprehended one of the 12 might be sick on the day of Election, It has been purposely observed in company where he was present That any member on our side who might be sick on that day, would risk his reputation. He acquised in the sentiment and declared If he could breath he would be present. Relying on this there will be no deception by ballot.5
On the third of February there is a call of all the regents of the university, to decide on the application for a College by the Citizens of Albany and those of Schenectady.6 Should I not be present It would give Occasion for animadversion. I must therefore postpone my visit to you until after that day.
All sides are impatient to see the report you have made;7 pray do not forget to send me a copy as soon as printed.
My Love to My Eliza & the Children Yours affectionately
P Schuyler
Hon: Alexander Hamilton Esqr
ALS, New-York Historical Society, New York City.
2. Rufus King was a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate.
3. Samuel Jones, a former Tory and a prominent legal scholar, became an Antifederalist after the American Revolution. In 1788 he was elected to the Poughkeepsie Ratifying Convention as a Clintonian, but was persuaded to support the Constitution. From 1786 to 1790 Jones was a member of the New York Assembly from Queens County, and from 1791 to 1797 he represented the Southern District of New York in the New York Senate. In addition, Jones was recorder of New York City from 1789 to 1796. By the mid-seventeen-nineties he was definitely associated with the Federalist party.
4. William Powers of Columbia County was a member of the New York Senate from the Eastern District of New York from 1792 to 1795.
5. Schuyler’s prediction was correct. On January 27, 1795, King was reelected to the United States Senate by a majority of two in the New York Senate and a majority of five in the Assembly.
6. The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York met on February 3, 1795, discussed “the respective applications for the establishment of a College in the town of Schenectady and in the City of Albany” on February 4 and 5, and on February 6, 1795, “Resolved … that it is expedient that a College should be established in the Northern parts of the State that the Town of Schenectady is the place to be preferred for such College—that the funds offered by the applicants and intended for the support of a College in the said Town are competent—that this Committee doth approve of the names of the twenty four persons named by the said applicants to be the first Trustees of the said College and that the Committee doth also approve of the name proposed for the said College by the said applicants and that it be accordingly called Union College in the Town of Schenectady in the State of New York” (“Journal of the Meetings of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York,” Vol. 1, 45–49, from the original in the New York State Library, Albany).
7. This is a reference to H’s “Report on a Plan for the Further Support of Public Credit,” January 16, 1795.