1The Continentalist No. I, [12 July 1781] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you the first number of a series of papers which I intend to publish on matters of the greatest importance to these States; I hope they will be read with as much candour and attention as the object of them deserve, and that no conclusions will be drawn till these are fully developed. I am, Sir , Your most obedient humble servant, A.B. The Continentalist. No. I . It would be the...
2Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to … (Hamilton Papers)
The Commissioners, appointed by His Excellency General Washington, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention, for the exchange of prisoners of war, and for all matters whatsoever, that may be properly contained therein,” are inexpressibly concerned, to find, that the Commissioners on the part of General Sir William Howe should think it necessary to make the objections stated...
3Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to George … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esquire General and Commander in chief of the Forces of the United States of America. We the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention for the exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever which may be properly contained therein,” beg leave to report— That, agreeable to Your...
4Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to … (Hamilton Papers)
We have the honor of your favor per flag; Having inform’d General Washington of the message delivered yesterday from Sir W. Howe, & of our intentions to return to camp immediately, in consequence of it; we do not think ourselves at liberty, to use so much delay, as would afford us the pleasure of the interview proposed. We are Gentlemen with due respect yr. Very hble servts. Df , or copy,...
5Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to George … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esquire, General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America. We, the Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency, “to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention, for the exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever, which may be properly contained therein” beg leave to report— That in pursuance of Your...
6Colonel William Grayson, Lieutenant Colonels Robert Hanson Harrison and Alexander Hamilton, and Elias Boudinot to … (Hamilton Papers)
The Commissioners appointed by His Excellency General Washington to confer, determine and agree upon a Treaty and Convention for the Exchange of Prisoners of War, and for all matters whatsoever, that may be properly contained therein— Having examined the powers on the part of General Sir William Howe to his Commissioners and compared them with their own, observe a difference, which, in their...
7Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 26 … (Hamilton Papers)
In addition to the official report of our proceedings at Amboy, which your Excellency will perceive have terminated in the manner you expected, we have the honor to give you an account of the steps we took, in consequence of the second part of your instructions, relative to a private conversation. But before we enter upon this, we think it our duty to inform you, that we have every reason to...
8Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington … (Hamilton Papers)
We beg leave to inform Your Excellency, that in the private report of our proceedings at Amboy dated the 26th. March, we omitted mentioning, (though it is to be inferred) that in the conversation which passed on the subject of accounts, it was explicitly declared by us, that if any particular sum should be accepted agreeable to the ideas of The British Gentlemen, it was not in any manner to be...
9Enclosure: Minutes of Prisoner Exchange Negotiations, 10–14 March 1780 (Washington Papers)
Minutes of the proceedings of the Commissioners, on the part of His Excellency General Washington and of His Excellency General sir Henry Clinton. The Commissioners being met, agree to the following preliminaries. That copies of the powers should be interchanged, and they were interchanged accordingly. That the limits of the neutral ground should extend three miles round Amboy, that Town being...
10Enclosure: Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George … (Hamilton Papers)
Plan of exchange for the Troops of Convention, in three Divisions to be formed as equally, as the exchanging by Corps will allow, from the Strength of the Rank & file, each of the two first Divisions to have a Major General and a Brigadier General, and the third The Lieutenant General and a Brigadier General exchanged with them. The Regiments to which the Brigadier Generals belong to be...
11Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to Major General William … (Hamilton Papers)
Major General St Clair Lt Col Carrington and Lt. Col Hamilton give it as their opinion as the result of the conversation held upon the subject that the most likely plan for effecting the exchange in contemplation is to confine it to the unexceptionable characters on both sides first exchanging all the prisoners of war and then the troops of convention for the balance, according to the...
12Major General Arthur St. Clair and Lieutenant Colonels Edward Carrington and Alexander Hamilton to George Washington … (Hamilton Papers)
To His Excellency George Washington Esqr. General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of The United States of America. We The Commissioners appointed by Your Excellency “to treat, confer, determine and conclude upon a General Cartel for the exchange and accommodation of prisoners of war including the troops of The Convention of Saratoga and all matters whatsoever which might be properly...
13Continental Congress Motion that Major General Howe be Directed to March Troops to Philadelphia, 30 June 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
That Major General Howe be directed to march such part of the force under his command as he shall judge necessary to the State of Pensylvania; and that the Commanding Officer in the said state be instructed to apprehend and confine all such persons, belonging to the army, as there is reason to believe instigated the late mutiny; to disarm the remainder; to take, in conjunction with the civil...
14Continental Congress Remarks on Plans for Paying the Public Debt, [29 January 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton disliked every plan that made but partial provision for the public debts; as an inconsistent & dishonorable departure from the declaration made by Congs. on that subject. He said the domestic Creditors would take the alarm at any distinctions unfavorable to their claims; that they would withhold their influence from any such measures recommended by Congress; and that it must be...
15Continental Congress Report on the Memorial of Francis Cazeau, 6 February 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
The Committee to whom was referred the Memorial from Mr. De Cazeau report: That it appears by Mr. Cazeaus representation that he was possessed of large property in Canada; that he took an early and decided part in favour of the American revolution; rendered services to our army in that Country by supplies of provisions & otherwise which were productive of immediate loss to him and attempted to...
16Continental Congress Report on Conference with the Superintendent of Finance, 28 April 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
[The Committee appointed to confer with the superintendant of Finance respecting his Continuance in his Office have conferred with him accordingly] and report that [the Substance] of the conferrence [was on the Part of Mr. Morris as follows:] That his continuance in office was highly injurious to his private affairs and contrary to his private inclinations; but that he felt the importance of...
17Continental Congress Motion on Establishment of Permanent Funds, 21 March 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas Congress did on the 12 day of February last resolve—“that it is the opinion of Congress that the establishment of permanent and adequate funds on taxes or duties which shall operate generally and on the whole in just proportions, throughout the United States are indispensably necessary towards doing complete justice to the public creditors for restoring public credit and for providing...
18Continental Congress Remarks on the Provisional Peace Treaty, [24 March 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton said that whilst he despised the man who wd. enslave himself to the policy even of our Friends, he could not but lament the overweening readiness which appeared in many, to suspect every thing on that side & to throw themselves into the bosom of our enemies. He urged the necessity of vindicating our public honor by renouncing that concealment to which it was the wish of so many to...
19Continental Congress Motion on Vermont, 5 December 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas it appears to Congress by authentic documents that the people inhabiting the district of Country on the West-side of Connecticut River commonly called the New Hampshire Grants, and claiming to be an independent state, in contempt of the authority of Congress and in direct violation of their resolutions of the 24th. of September 1779 and of the 2d. of June 1780, did, in the month of...
20Continental Congress Remarks on the Hiring Out of British Prisoners, [11 December 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
The Secy. at War was authorized to permit the British prisoners to hire themselves out on condition of a bond from the Hirers for their return. The measure was not opposed, but was acquiesced in by some, only as conformable to antecedent principles established by Congress on this subject. Col. Hamilton in particular gave this explanation. “Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress,” MS,...
21Continental Congress Motion that States be Requested to Send Delegates to Congress, 2 July 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas by the Confederation the assent of nine states is requisite to the determination of matters of principal importance to the United States and the representation in Congress has for some time past generally consisted of less than that number of states in consequence whereof the public business at an interesting juncture has suffered and continues to suffer great delay and embarrassment:...
22Continental Congress Report on a Treaty of Commerce between the United States and Great Britain, 1 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
The Commitee to whom was referred the letter from Mr. Adams of the report: That they have examined the different instructions given to our Commissioners and Ministers abroad and find that the Commissioners for making peace have an implied power to comprehend commercial stipulations in a Treaty of peace; but that there is no direct subsisting power of entering into a treaty of commerce with...
23Continental Congress Report on Power of Secretary at War to Discharge Soldiers, 13 December 1782 (Hamilton Papers)
The Committee on the letter from Col Stewart to the Secretary at War report the following resolution: Reso[l]ved that the Secretary at War have a power of discharging soldiers from the army of The United States similar to that given to the Commander in Chief. AD , Papers of the Continental Congress, National Archives. The committee consisted of H, James Madison, and Samuel Osgood. Walter...
24Continental Congress Remarks on Appropriating the Impost Exclusively to the Army, [19 February 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton opposed the motion strenuously, declared that as a friend to the army as well as to the other Creditors & to the public at large he could never assent to such a partial dispensation of Justice; that the different States being differently attached to different branches of the public debt would never concur in establishg. a fund wch. was not extended to every branch; that it was...
25Continental Congress Report on the Garrisoning of Frontier Posts by Continental Troops, 12 May 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
The same Committee submit the following report on the letter of the 3d. instant from the Commander in Chief: That the Commander in Chief be directed whenever the posts within the United states shall be evacuated pursuant to the articles of peace to place within the same, composed of the troops under his command [who have inlisted for three years &] whose times of service may not then have...
26Continental Congress Report on Colonel Charles Armand, 26 March 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
The Committee to whom were referred the letters from the Commander in Chief & from Col Armand submit the following resolution: Col Armand having entered at an early period of the war into the army of The United States with the rank of Colonel, and having served with distinction in that rank, so as to acquire the particular approbation of the Commander in Chief for his intelligence zeal and...
27Continental Congress Motion on the Promotion of Brigadiers, [16–19 December 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
That the Secretary at War report to Congress on friday next the number of additional promotion of Brigadiers requisite to the service of the ensuing Campaign; and the names and dates of Commissions of such Cols & Lt Cols Command[an]ts as stand next in order of promotion; and that Congress then proceed to the election of the necessary Brigadiers. AD , Papers of the Continental Congress,...
28Continental Congress Motion that Debates on the Establishment of Funds Be Public, 18 February 1783 (Hamilton Papers)
Whereas it is the desire of Congress that the motives of their deliberations and measures (as far as they can be disclosed consistently with the public safety) should be fully known to their constituents: Therefore Resolved that when the establishment of funds for paying the principal & interest of the public debts shall be under the consideration of this house the doors thereof shall be open....
29Continental Congress Remarks on the Revenue and the Situation of the Army, [20 February 1783] (Hamilton Papers)
The conversation turned on the subject of revenue under the consideration of Congress, and on the situation of the army. The conversation on the first subject ended in a general concurrence (Mr. Hamilton excepted) in the impossibility of adding to the impost on trade any taxes that wd. operate equally throughout the States, or be adopted by them. On the second subject Mr. Hamilton & Mr. Peters...
30Continental Congress Motion Censuring David Howell, [17 December 1782] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Howel having avowed himself the author of the letter respecting foreign loans and other matters as published in the Boston Gazette of Nov 10 1782 mentioned in the report of the Committee thereupon, It is the sense of this house that the said letter contains a misrepresentation of facts of a tendency injurious to the public affairs and a disclosure of an important foreign transaction...