New York Ratifying Convention. Ninth Speech of July 19, [19 July 1788]
New York Ratifying Convention. Ninth Speech of July 191
[Poughkeepsie, New York, July 19, 1788]
Ham[ilton]—this not an explanitory amend[men]t—2 may be recommendatory—which he would wish—in regulating commerce—this power seems to be incident—thinks that it may be possible that it will be useful—therefore thinks it ought to be left out.
[Samuel] Jones—it cannot be an explanation—
[John] Lansing—Congress have no power about the business except a regulation of commerce—
Ham[ilton]—agrees—here the difficulty already occurs respecting the word “expresly” moves to transfer it to the list of recommendatory amend[ment]s.3
Gilbert Livingston MS Notes, MS Division, New York Public Library.
2. H was discussing the following amendment: ⟨That the Congress do not expressly grant Monopolies,⟩ or erect any Company, with exclusive Advantage of Commerce.” (John McKesson Papers, New-York Historical Society, New York City.)
3. This proposal was adopted by the Convention.
On this date the Convention finished its debate on the “Bill of Rights” of the Lansing plan for ratification of the Constitution. At the conclusion of the day’s debate, the following exchange took place between Governor George Clinton and H:
“Gov[erno]r—the co[mitt]ee now thro the explanatory amend[ment]s—Wishes a Com[mitt]ee should be appointed—to take these matters and others not consid[ere]d.
“Ham[ilton]—wishes rather to consider of the amend[ment]s in the abstract—& leave the classing of them to an after consideration—.” (Gilbert Livingston MS Notes, MS Division, New York Public Library.)