To John Jay from the New York City Committee, 13 July 1792
From the New York City Committee
New york— July 13.th 17921
Sir
Permit us in behalf of ourselves and the very respectable Body of our fellow Citizens which we have the honor to represent, to congratulate you upon your safe return to this City from the Eastern Circuit.
The friends of Liberty have ever entertained a lively sense of the important Services which you have rendered to your Country in every Situation in which you have been placed. Whether they examine your Conduct as a Member of the General Congress at the most trying periods of the late War, and of the Convention which framed the Constitution of this State; or consider your Agency in negociating the Treaty, which secured to America the Blessings of Peace, Liberty & safety; they find a continual display of Abilities and Virtue which will ^hand^ your Name down to remote Posterity as one of the illustrious Defenders of the Rights of Man.
It was this Sense, Sir, of your public Services which induced the Independent Freeholders of the State to nominate and support you at the last Election as a Candidate for the Office of their Chief Magistrate, and procured you a decided Majority of votes. Thus called to enjoy one of the highest Honors in the power of a grateful People to bestow, it was not to be expected that you would have been deprived of it by the Machinations of a few interested and designing Men. In contempt however of the Sacred Voice of the People—in defiance of the Constitution—and in violation of uniform Practice and the settled principles of Law, we have Seen a Majority of the canvassing Committee reject the Votes of whole Counties for the purpose of excluding you and making way for a Governor of their own Choice. This wanton and daring Attack upon the invaluable Right of suffrage has excited a Serious ^alarm^ amongst the Electors of the State, and united them in measures to obtain Redress. In the pursuit of an Object so interesting, we shall like Freemen act with Moderation and Order; but at the same Time with Zeal and Perseverance. Whilst we respect the Laws, we respect ourselves and our Rights and feel the Strongest Obligation to assert and maintain them. The Cause in which we are engaged being the Cause of the People we trust that it cannot fail of Success; but in every Event we entreat you to believe that you will retain a distinguished place in our Affections, and that we shall embrace every Opportunity to manifest the unbounded Confidence which we repose in your Talents and Patriotism.
By order of the Committee
Nich. Cruger—
Chairman—2
DS, NNC (EJ: 13040). Addressed “To the Honorable John Jay Esquire / Chief Justice of the United States.” Endorsed.
1. This address was published, together with JJ’s reply, in several newspapers, including the Daily Advertiser (New York), Diary (New York), and New-York Journal (Elizabethtown), all 14 July; Poughkeepsie Journal, 19 July; Phoenix or the Windham Herald (Windham, Conn.) and Gazette of the United States (Philadelphia), both 21 July; and Albany Gazette, 23 July 1792. It was preceded by the following statement, “Yesterday, the Committee appointed by the Friends of Liberty, pursuant to public notice, assembled at Bardin’s Tavern, and from thence proceeded to the house of the Hon. JOHN JAY, attended by a number of respectable citizens, when the following address was presented:—”
2. Nicholas Cruger (1743–1800), a New York City merchant, chaired the committee of correspondence of the Friends of Liberty, JJ’s supporters. For JJ’s reply, see below. For similar addresses by the committees of Lansingburgh and Albany, see their letters of 30 June, and 2 July 1792, and JJ’s replies, above. On the committee of canvassers’ decision to reject the votes of three Jay-supporting counties and the repercussions, see “The Disputed Election of 1792” (editorial note), above.