27551New York Ratifying Convention. Notes for a Speech, [20 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I Various Interests Navigating and Non Navigating— Great and Small— Struggle for Commercial point two thirds Struggle for equal power— Some small states non navigating— Hence tendency to combination Necessity of accommodation— Oeconomy— Relate difficulties on this point As to the ratios of representation I Character of slaves mixed persons & property II In many states persons included in census...
27552New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks (Francis Childs’s Version), [20 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The hon. Mr. Hamilton then rose. Mr. Chairman the honorable Member, who spoke yesterday, went into an explanation of a variety of circumstances to prove the expediency of a change in our national government, and the necessity of a firm union: At the same time he described the great advantages which this State, in particular, receives from the confederacy, and its peculiar weaknesses when...
27553New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks (John McKesson’s Version), [20 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The Gentleman who spoke yesterday has been treated as having dealt in the flowry Fields of Immagination I agree if this Governt. is dangerous to the Liberties of the People let us reject it— Tho no Considerations of Danger should induce us to adopt a Governmt. radically bad—yet it was prudent to weigh those Moti[v]es which might induce us to attend those Considerations which involve public...
27554New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks (Melancton Smith’s Version), [20 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The Govt. is to be rejected if bad. Not call reasoning, declamation. Radical defect of the Constitution is, that it operates upon individuals not on States. This proved from experience. In the war, patriotism operd. in the room of goverment— On record by Resolutions of both the principle admitted. Several States will be delinqt. at the same time, and therefore will not coerce. Suppose one...
27555From Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you My beloved for your letter by the Post. I have time only to tell you that I am well and to request to be remembered to your sister & to Mrs. Mitchell Adieu My beloved. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Letter not found. Ann Venton Mitchell, H’s cousin, had been known to him during his boyhood on St. Croix in the West Indies.
27556To Alexander Hamilton from John Langdon, [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
By the Desire of our Mutual Friend Rufus King Esqr. I have the great pleasure and satisfaction of informing you, that this State, has this day Adopted the federal Constitution; this al-important Question, was Carried by a Majority of Eleven 57 Yeas 46 Nays. Excuse hast and Believe me, with the greatest Respect Dr: Sir: Your Mot: Obt: Servant P: S: this letter goes to Springfield by an...
27557From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for your letter of the 9th. instant and am glad to learn that you think the chance is in your favour. I hope no disagreeable change may happen. Yet I own I fear something from your indisposition. Our debate here began on the clause respecting the proportion of representation &c. which has taken up two days. Tomorrow I imagine we shall talk about the power over elections. The only...
27558New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of June 21 (Francis Childs’s Version), [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton then reassumed his argument. When, said he, I had the honor to address the committee yesterday, I gave a history of the circumstances which attended the Convention, when forming the Plan before you. I endeavored to point out to you the principles of accommodation, on which this arrangement was made; and to shew that the contending interests of the States led them to establish the...
27559New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of June 21 (John McKesson’s Version), [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I endeavoured to Shew that the Contending Interests of the States produced that Compromise— That it would finally produce Safety— That all Attempts to vary that Clause will be useless— That it will finally from Circumstances & Cause produce a sufficient Represantation— I Contend that 65 & 24 will [be] sufficient for the Safety of the Country—the [number] will encrease—in 20 or 25 years be 200...
27560New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of June 21 (Melancton Smith’s Version), [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton. Agrees with me in the first principle of a broad basis. It resulted from compromise. secure at present. 3 years. fallacy—the body havg. a permt. Int. The Int. not for it. Public opinion governs ye people in France. The Argument from public opinion concludes to any thing. The numbers of the State will be diminishd. It may be the case accordy. to ye States. The State governments...
27561New York Ratifying Convention. Second Speech of June 21, [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton I do contend that this Constitution is a federal Republic. John McKesson MS Notes, New-York Historical Society, New York City. In the McKesson account of Melancton Smith’s second speech of June 21 this statement by H is included. It is preceded by the following statement by Smith: “When the People do chuse their Rulers—must not these rulers in a Republic be a complete...
27562New York Ratifying Convention. Third Speech of June 21 (Francis Childs’s Version), [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The Hon. Mr. Hamilton . Mr. Chairman I rise to take notice of the observations of the hon. member from Ulster. I imagine the objections he has stated, are susceptible of a complete and satisfactory refutation. But before I proceed to this, I shall attend to the arguments advanced by the gentlemen from Albany and Dutchess. These arguments have been frequently urged, and much confidence has been...
27563New York Ratifying Convention. Third Speech of June 21 (John McKesson’s Version), [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Under the present Confederation 26 Men may do every thing that the proposed Governmt. may do—and 18 of these may form a Majority— Under the new Governmt. the proportionate Streng[t]h in the Legislature is gain[e]d because the Vote per Capite— —Members will attend as their State Constitutents will require it—As to the Albany Member The Representation ought to be small because you will more...
27564New York Ratifying Convention. Fourth Speech of June 21, [21 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton . I only rise to observe that the gentleman has misunderstood me. What I meant to express was this; that if we argued from possibilities only; if we reasoned from chances, or an ungovernable propensity to evil, instead of taking into view the controul, which the nature of things, or the form of the constitution provided; the argument would lead us to withdraw all confidence from...
27565To Alexander Hamilton from James Madison, 22 June 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
The Judiciary Department has been on the anvil for several days; and I presume will still be a further subject of disquisition. The attacks on it have apparently made less impression than was feared. But they may be secretly felt by particular interests that would not make the acknowledgement, and wd. chuse to ground their vote agst. the Constitution on other motives. In the course of this...
27566New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of June 23 (Francis Childs’s Version), [23 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The honorable Mr. Hamilton . It is not my design, Mr. Chairman, to extend this debate by any new arguments on the general subject. I have delivered my sentiments so fully on what has been advanced by the gentlemen this morning, that any further reasonings from me will be easily dispensed with. I only rise to state a fact, with respect to the motives which operated in the general convention. I...
27567New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of June 23 (John McKesson’s Version), [23 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
It is true the great object of the Smaller States was an equal Suffrage in Senate—but some of them also wished to retain what advantages in Suffrage the[y] Could in the other House. I was absent 10 days—found on Return the plan as it now is—A Motion was made to encrease the Numbers—It was declared that the Number was the Effect of Compromise—New Hampshire & the South declared the difficulty of...
27568New York Ratifying Convention. Second Speech of June 23, [23 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton . I recollect well the alteration which the gentleman alludes to; but, it by no means militates against my idea of the principles on which the convention acted at the time the report of the committee was under deliberation. This alteration did not take place till the convention was near rising, and the business compleated; when his excellency the president expressing a wish that...
27569New York Ratifying Convention. Notes on Debates, [24 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Lansing … mode of appointment duration in office means of controul— Chancellor— Senators equally interested in preserving the residuary powers— Senate intended as representation of the sovereignties of the states— Therefore ought to be dependent. { States have never exercised power of rotation— Rotation in Congress has been valuable— Parties have been extinguished— Will not have less...
27570New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks (Francis Childs’s Version), [24 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Honorable Mr. Hamilton . I am persuaded, Mr. Chairman, that I in my turn, shall be indulged, in addressing the committee. We all, with equal sincerity, profess to be anxious for the establishment of a republican government, on a safe and solid basis. It is the object of the wishes of every honest man in the United States, and I presume I shall not be disbelieved, when I declare, that it is an...
27571New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks (John McKesson’s Version), [24 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
We all Aim at the best Govt. We should mix the Happy Ingredients, and not go into Extremes or we shall build Utopia upon Utopia— It was a time of Jealo[u]sy—We seemed to have attended only to tie the Representat Another Prin. To have in our Govt. some Stable Body that will pursue a System— Guard agt. Innovations and know and direct public Affairs— The People of every Country desire the...
27572New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks (Melancton Smith’s Version), [24 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The mind at ye Revolution run into extremes—the extreme was, we consulted nothing but to tie the Representative to ye people. A Stable body wh. oppurtunty. to know guard ags. instability The people of every country desire its prosperity but want information. Frequently misled by artful Men. Concilliate two objects. One Body who shall be closely united to the people, this in the Representative....
27573From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [25 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I am very sorry to find by your letter of the 13th that your prospects are so critical. Our chance of success here is infinitely slender, and none at all if you go wrong. The leaders of the Antifederalists finding their part seems somewhat squeamish about rejection, are obliged at present to recur to the project of conditional amendments. We are going on very deliberately in the discussion and...
27574New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of June 25 (Francis Childs’s Version), [25 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The Hon. Mr. Hamilton . Mr. Chairman, in debates of this kind it is extremely easy, on either side, to say a great number of plausible things. It is to be acknowledged, that there is even a certain degree of truth in the reasonings on both sides. In this situation, it is the province of judgment and good sense to determine their force and application, and how far the arguments advanced on one...
27575New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of June 25 (John McKesson’s Version), [25 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The Principles laid down on both Sides may be true to a certain Extent— Each appears plausible and have a certain degree of force We must then determine where one principle must give way to another— We Should combine the Principles which will [give] Stability on one Side—and Safety to the Interests of the People on the other Side The Argumts. applied here to the Senate should be applied to the...
27576New York Ratifying Convention. Second Speech of June 25, [25 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton—The Genl. Intent of the Clause is Suppose what is expressed in the Resolution proposed— Mr. Hamilton If that is the opinion of the Committee—there will be no debate on the Question— John McKesson MS Notes, New-York Historical Society, New York City. There is no record of these statements by H in any of the other accounts of the debates of June 25. H’s statements followed these...
27577New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks, [26 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr Hamilton—This matter was fully debated in the Convention and left ⟨–⟩. It will not be strenuously insisted on either side. John McKesson MS Notes, New-York Historical Society, New York City. There is no record of this statement by H in any of the other accounts of the debates of June 26. H’s statement followed these remarks by John Lansing, Jr.: “It appears that this Clause was intended to...
27578From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [27 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
A day or two ago General Schuyler at my request sent forward to you an express with an account of the adoption of the Constitution by New Hampshire. We eagerly wait for further intelligence from you, as our only chance of success depends on you. There are some slight symptoms of relaxation in some of the leaders; which authorises a gleam of hope, if you do well; but certainly I think not...
27579To Alexander Hamilton from James Madison, 27 June [1788] (Hamilton Papers)
This day put an end to the existence of our Convention. The inclosed is a copy of the Act of Ratification. It has been followed by a number of recomendatory alterations; many of them highly objectionable. One of the most so is an article prohibiting direct taxes where effectual laws shall be passed by the States for the purpose. It was impossible to prevent this error. The minority will sign...
27580New York Ratifying Convention. Notes on Debates, [27 June 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Mel Smith Powers ought to be precisely defined— Peculiarly so in a government of the particular kind. Ought to rest as well for operation as organisation— Harmony . Money necessary to existence of both— Interference or clashing of power— And one must fall a sacrifice to the other. No limitation to discretion of legislature— State Governments & G Government have concurrent jurisdiction in all...