71To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 1 March 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
Since my letter of the 24th. I have recd. yrs. of the same date; and after maturely reflecting upon the subject, and consulting one or two of our friends here I am confirmed in the Sentiment that I ought not to consent to be a candidate for the Govr. shd. the federalists think of offering me. This being my determination, it is right that I shd apprize you of it, in order that our friends may...
72To Alexander Hamilton from Oliver Wolcott Junior, [February 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
By Letters lately recd. from Albany, by Gentlemen interested in the Merchants Bank, we are informed, that a meeting of political characters connected with the Legislature, has been held, and that it has been resolved at all events to suppress this Company. This violent decision was altogether unexpected, as from prior intelligence, it appeared that several influential characters of the ruling...
73To Alexander Hamilton from George Clinton, 29 February 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
This is the first moments leisure I have had to answer your Letter of the 27th Instant which was handed to me yesterday. I have carefully perused the Papers it inclosed under the signature of Mr. James Kane and find the statement of the transaction aluded to as admitted by Judge Purdy to be correct as far as my Name is implicated, and I believe it contains as reduced by Judge Purdy the...
74To Alexander Hamilton from James Kane, [28 February 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
Attach’d to this You have the Purdy Statement, which I am very Clear is in substance Correct. If you deem it very important that I should make affidavit of what is Here related—I will do it. At the same time I must acknowledge I shall have some difficulty in bringing my mind to it. My pride & Delicacy being in Opposition &c. With much respect & Esteem I remain Dr Sir &c ALS , New-York...
75From Alexander Hamilton to George Clinton, 27 February 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
It is now a long time since a very ⟨odious⟩ slander has been in circulation to the prejudice of my character. It has come to my ears in more than one way, but always ’till lately without the disclosure ⟨of⟩ any source to which I could resort for explanation or detection. Within a few days, Mr. Kane of this City related to me a story as coming from Judge Purdy, in substance very similar to the...
76Nathaniel Pendleton’s Memorandum on a Conversation between Alexander Hamilton and Ebenezer Purdy, [25 February 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
On Saturday the 25th of february 1804 I went with General Hamilton to the lodgings of Judge Purdy in Albany who was at home. General H. said that he had called on Mr. Purdy, supposing he had had sufficient time for reflection, to know who was the person alluded to in the conversation he had had with him a day or two before when Mr. Kane was present. Mr. Purdy said he had thought of it, but had...
77To Alexander Hamilton from Rufus King, 24 February 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. D. Ogdon called upon me a few minutes past, and as I understood from him that he purposes writing to you by the mail of this Evening, I think it proper, in order to avoid any misconception of the tenour of our conversation to repeat to you the purport of what I said to him. viz. “Whether it will be expedient to offer a federal candidate for the Govr. is a point upon wh, from the want of...
78From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, 24 February 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
You will have heared, before this reaches you, of the fluctuations and changes which have taken place in the measures of the reigning party, as to a candidate for Governor; and you will probably have also been informed that pursuant to the opinions professed by our friends, before I left New York, I had taken an open part in favour of Mr. Lansing. It is a fact to be regretted, though...
79From Alexander Hamilton to Robert G. Harper, 19 February 1804 (Hamilton Papers)
Since the receipt of your letter on the subject of the impeachment of the Judges, this is perhaps the first moment, that indifferent health and excessive occupation have permitted a reply. I view the attempts which are making completely in the light you do; and have very little doubt that they are in prosecution of a deliberate plan to prostrate the independence of the Judicial Department, and...
80Speech at a Meeting of Federalists in Albany, [10 February 1804] (Hamilton Papers)
Reasons why it is desirable that Mr. Lansing rather than Col. Burr should succeed. 1. Col Burr has steadily pursued the ⟨track⟩ of democratic policies. This he has done either from principle or from calculation . If the former he is not likely now to change his plan, when the fœderalists are prostrate and their enemies predominent. If the latter, he will certainly not at this time relinquish...