Memorandum from Jeremiah Olney, 19 June 1790
Memorandum from Jeremiah Olney
[19 June 1790]
Memo. of Sundry persons Suitable Characters to fill the Offices annexed to their Respective Names—in Rhode Island—Vizt
Jereh Olney
ADS, DLC:GW.
GW had appointed Olney collector at Providence on 14 June 1790 (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 14 June 1790). Olney apparently traveled to New York to press his application and delivered this memorandum to GW while in the city. His purpose seems to have been to supply GW with a list of reliable Federalists with which to replace Antifederalist state officers. Olney explained to Alexander Hamilton on 7 June that Antifederalist Daniel Owen, president of the ratifying convention, on the advice of Antifederalist Gov. Arthur Fenner, was withholding formal notice of ratification from GW until the legislature could send Antifederalist senators to New York to influence the revenue appointments. Olney explained that “they Wish to have all the Ante Revenue officers of the State reappointed & expect the Senators will Influence the President In the nomination of these Bitter & Uniform opposers of the Constitution” (Olney to Hamilton, 7 June 1790, in 6:458–59).