To John Jay from Matthew Clarkson, 10 June 1798
From Matthew Clarkson
[New York June 10th. 1798.]
Sir,
The Citizens of New York, anxious and disquieted on account of the imperfect state of defence of this port and City, and fearing from the great and complicated objects which engage the attention of the General Government at this juncture, that measures for their security may not be executed as promptly as the danger may require:—have been induced to appoint Committees to devise and pursue such measures, in aid of those of the Government, for that object, as should appear to them expedient and necessary.1
These Committees have accordingly met, and consulted, and are about to adopt some expedients towards the end of their trust. But aware that whatever they may be able to Accomplish must be very inadequate, desirous that as speedily as possible, the necessity of their charge may be superseded by the more effectual care of the Government, and considering that the purpose for which they have been appointed is obviously of primary importance to the State at Large, also, that Events have recently occurred, making a very material change in the public Situation, which were not in the view of the Legislature at their last session, it has appeared to them proper, and adviseable, in reference to the object contemplated by their fellow Citizens, that the Legislature of this State, should be convened at some early day.2
Under this impression, and in the name of the Citizens of New York, in whose behalf they act, the said Committees beg leave to submit to Your Excellency’s consideration the expediency of a special, and speedy Convention of our Legislature, and respectfully to request that the measure, if it shall not appear to You improper may be carried into effect.
In taking this step, they trust that justice will be done to the motives, that it will be well understood, that no officious, interference with Legal discretion is intended, and that the extraordinary nature of the conjuncture (in a case more immediately within the observation of our Citizens) will be conceived to divest this application of any thing which could be supposed to form an inconvenient precedent.
On behalf, and by Order of the Committees, I have the Honor to be, with great respect, Your Excelly’s Most obedt. Servt.
M. Clarkson Chairman
Dupl LS, NNC (EJ: 11465). Marked: “(Duplicate)”. Endorsed: “… Fortifying N York &c.—”. C, undated, N (EJ: 02970), letter attested by “Jas: Fairlie Secy.—”. C, undated, with attached fragment of JJ’s reply of 14 June, NNC (EJ: 09841). For the reply, see JJ to Clarkson, 14 June 1798, below.
1. According to press accounts, sixty former army and naval officers met at Gaultier’s tavern on 5 June and appointed Clarkson as chair for the proceedings. The assembly appointed a committee to “devise and pursue in concert with our fellow citizens at large, such measures as may be judged expedient for the security of the port and city of New York.” The bipartisan committee consisted of Col. Alexander Hamilton, Col. Aaron Burr, Col. Ebenezer Stevens, Col. Marinus Willet, Maj. Nathaniel Pendleton, Gen. Matthew Clarkson, and Col. Hamilton Fish. On 6 June the committee met with a committee from the Chamber of Commerce and recommended that citizens of each ward meet and appoint three persons from each ward as a committee to meet with the two other committees to devise defense measures. All the committees convened on 8 June, again with Clarkson as chairman, and appointed a Military Committee (AH, Burr, and Stevens) to provide cannon and ammunition and another committee to handle the finances involved. See Greenleaf’s New York Journal, 6 June; Philadelphia Gazette, 8 June; Aurora General Advertiser (Philadelphia), 8 June; Spectator (New York); 9 June; Albany Register, 11 June; Greenleaf’s New York Journal, 13 June; Supplement to the Connecticut Gazette (New London); 13 June; Albany Gazette, 15 June 1798.
For the bipartisan nature of the committee appointed on 5 June, see letter by “MONTGOMERY”, Daily Advertiser (New York), 11 June 1798. For a notice concerning the appointment of John Blagg, Ezekiel Robins, and John Cozine as the committee representing the 3rd Ward, see Commercial Advertiser (New York), 8 June; Greenleaf’s New York Journal, 9 June 1798. For the response of New York City’s Common Council, see , 13 June 1798, 2: 446–47. See also the editorial note “Defending New York,” above.
2. On 2 July, JJ issued a proclamation calling for an early session of the state legislature. See Proclamation Summoning an Early Session of the New York State Legislature, [2 July 1798], below.