Alexander Hamilton Papers
Documents filtered by: Author="Hamilton, Alexander"
sorted by: author
Permanent link for this document:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Hamilton/01-12-02-0272

Amicus, [11 September 1792]

Amicus

[Philadelphia, September 11, 1792]

For the National Gazette.

A writer in the Gazette of Saturday last, after several observations, with regard to certain charges, which have lately been brought forward against the Secretary of State, proceeds to make or insinuate several charges against another public character.1

As to the observations which are designed to exculpate the Secretary of State, I shall do nothing more than refer to the discussions which have taken place and appear to be in a train to be pursued, in the Gazette of the United States.2

As to the charges which have been bro’t against the other public character alluded to, I shall assert generally, from a long, intimate, and confidential acquaintance with him, added to some other means of information, that the matters charged, as far as they are intelligible, are either grossly misrepresented or palpably untrue.

A part of them, is of a nature to speak itself, without comment, the malignity and turpitude of the accuser, denoting clearly the personal enemy in the garb of the political opponent.

The subject and the situation of the parties naturally impose silence—but this is not the first attempt of the kind that has been made; fruitlessly hitherto, and I doubt not equally fruitlessly in time to come. An opinion on the experience of fifteen years, the greatest part of the time, under circumstances affording the best opportunity for an accurate estimate of character, cannot be shaken by slanderous surmises. The charge of which I shall take more particular notice, is contained in the following passage—“Let him explain the public character, who, if uncontradicted fame is to be regarded, opposed the Constitution in the Grand Convention, because it was too republican, and advocated the British monarchy as the perfect standard to be approached as nearly as the people could be made to bear.”

This I affirm, to be a gross misrepresentation. To prove it so, it were sufficient to appeal to a single fact, namely, that the gentleman alluded to, was the only member from the state to which he belonged who signed the Constitution, and, it is notorious, against the prevailing weight of the official influence of the state, and against what would probably be the opinion of a large majority of his fellow-citizens, till better information should correct their first impressions—how then can he be believed to have opposed a thing, which he actually agreed to, and that, in so unsupported a situation, and under circumstances of such peculiar responsibility? To this I shall add two more facts; one, that the member in question, never made a single proposition to the Convention, which was not conformable to the republican theory;3 the other, that the highest-toned of any of the propositions made by him was actually voted for by the representations of several states, including some of the principal ones; and including individuals, who, in the estimation of those who deem themselves the only republicans, are pre-eminent for republican character4—more than this I am not at liberty to say. It is a matter generally understood, that the deliberations of the Convention which were carried on in private, were to remain undisturbed. And every prudent man must be convinced of the propriety both of the one and the other. Had the deliberations been open while going on, the clamours of faction would have prevented any satisfactory result. Had they been afterwards disclosed, much food would have been afforded to inflammatory declamation. Propositions made without due reflection, and perhaps abandoned by the proposers themselves, on more mature reflection, would have been handles for a profusion of il-natured accusation.

Every infallible declaimer taking his own ideas as the perfect standard, would have railed without measure or mercy at every member of the Convention who had gone a single line beyond his standard.

The present is a period fruitful in accusation. Much anonymous slander has and will be vented. No man’s reputation can be safe, if charges in this form are to be lightly listened to. There are but two kinds of anonymous charges that can merit attention—where the evidence goes along with the charge—and where reference is made to specific facts, the evidence of the truth or falsehood of which, is in the power or possession of the party accused, and he at liberty to make a free use of it. None of the charges brought forward in the present instance, fall within either of these rules.

Amicus.

[Philadelphia] National Gazette, September 12, 1792.

1H is referring to an unsigned article in the National Gazette, September 8, 1792, that was written in reply to H’s attacks on Thomas Jefferson in his “An American” letters dated August 4, 11, 18, 1792. After defending Jefferson, the anonymous author concluded his article by writing:

“But as the American has shewn himself so unequal to the task he has undertaken, this virtuous explainer of public characters, is requested to undertake another, wherein he cannot be so liable to mistakes. Let him explain the public character, who, if uncontradicted fame is to be regarded, opposed the constitution in the Grand Convention, because it was too republican, and advocated the British Monarchy as the perfect standard to be approached to as nearly as the people could be made to bear, and now would impose himself on the people for a pure republican, and would have them distrust men who have uniformly supported the constitution on republican grounds.

“Let the explainer go on—and explain the public character who on an occasion well known to him, could so far divest himself of gratitude, and revolt from the spirit of his station, as to erect his little crest against the magnanimous Chief who at present is at the head of our civil establishment; and has on many free occasions since, spoken with levity and depreciation of some of the greatest qualities of that renowned character; and now gives himself out as if he were his most cordial friend and admirer, and most worthy of public confidence on that account. But all this may be explained—For, if a delicacy ‘equal to that of family connections,’ did not oppose, it could be proved to be the avowed policy of some, to make the most of a great name in furthering their political views, by holding up its sanction, as if extended in all cases, and by full and positive approbation, thereto.

“This explainer will be further able to throw great light on the combination attempted at the approach of peace, to establish an efficient government, by means efficient also; but very different from the republican and free plan of a Convention acting by the authority of the people. This piece of history is much wanted; and with the other explanations which the American, from his love of the people, truth, and of liberty, it is expected will not withhold, will be of vast utility. He will then have the merit, he now only affects, of letting the public into the true knowledge of public characters it trusts; and the satisfaction, if he is not callous to remorse, of doing full justice to the character of the Secretary of State, by placing it in contrast with some which will be so detected and brought to light.” ([Philadelphia] National Gazette, September 8, 1792.)

2Although H did not write any more “An American” letters, on September 15, 1792, the first of his “Catullus” letters was published in the [Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States. “Catullus No. I” was written in reply to a letter signed “Aristides,” which appeared in the [Philadelphia] Gazette of the United States on September 8, 1792.

4H may be referring to the vote on the tenure of the presidency. On July 17, 1787, the delegations from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia voted in favor of amending the clause to change the presidential term of office from seven years to “during good behavior” (Hunt and Scott, Debates description begins Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America. Reported by James Madison (New York, 1920). description ends , 273). Among the members of the Virginia delegation present on that date were James Madison, George Mason, and Edmund Randolph (Hunt and Scott, Debates description begins Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America. Reported by James Madison (New York, 1920). description ends , 265, 272–73).

Index Entries