81New York Ratifying Convention. Second Speech of July 24, [24 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
[Matthew] Adgate—This business has been effected by degrees. This has heretofore been conceived to have been a Mode that would bring us in. Gent[lemen] now say we cannot—but if we May does not doubt we shall —they must violate the old Confedn. Ham[ilton]—Adg[at]e intimates that they have come down to our Ideas. This is not so—yet we are willing to go as far as we can and be received. The...
82New York Ratifying Convention. Remarks, [23 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Ham[ilton]—thinks we ought to proceed on the report—& if any gent[leman] wishes to introduce an amend[men]t he has a right to do it. Gilbert Livingston MS Notes, MS Division, New York Public Library. For a discussion of the debates on July 23 and of the decisions made by the Convention on that date, see “New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of July 24 .”
83From Alexander Hamilton to Nathaniel Chipman, 22 July 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
Your brother delivered me your favour which I received with pleasure as the basis of a correspondence that may be productive of public good. The accession of Vermont to the Confederacy is doubtless an object of great importance to the whole, and it appears to me that this is the favorable moment for effecting it upon the best terms for all concerned. Besides more general reasons, there are...
84From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [22 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you by the last post since which nothing material has turned up here. We are debating on amendments without having decided what is to be done with them. There is so great a diversity in the views of our opponents that it is impossible to predict any thing. Upon the whole however our fears diminish. Yrs. Affecly I take the liberty for certain reasons to put the inclosed under cover...
85New York Ratifying Convention. First Speech of July 22, [22 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Hamilton objects because there is no security in it—the people are excluded from chusing perhaps your best man— [Melancton] Smith would rather have him elected for 8 yrs & not eligible again—Mov[e]d for it—Jay seconded his Mot[io]n. Ham[ilton]—opposes—a temptation for an avaritious man—to plunder & make the best of his time—has not the motive to please— [Melancton] Smith Much may be said on...
86New York Ratifying Convention. Second Speech of July 22, [22 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Ham[ilton]—among other reasons ag[ains]t it— mentions the probability of having the appointments better thro[ugh] the states, as the senators represent all the states— Gilbert Livingston Papers, MS Division, New York Public Library. H was opposing an amendment which provided “That the Congress appoint in such manner as they may think proper a Council to advise the President in the Appointment...
87New York Ratifying Convention. First Motion of July 22, [22 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
That the last mentioned Amendment having been read Mr. Hamilton moved that the same should be obliterated and the following inserted in its stead vizt. “That When the Number of Persons in the District of Territory to be laid out for the Seat of the Government of the United States, shall according to the Rule for the Apportionment of Representatives and direct Taxes Amount to such District...
88New York Ratifying Convention. Third Speech of July 22, [22 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Ham[ilton]—improper in a war, or in the case of a war to publish a state of accounts to all the world— Gilbert Livingston MS Notes, MS Division, New York Public Library. In this speech H was discussing the following amendment: “That an Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of public Money shall at least once in every Year be transmitted to the Executives of the several States to be laid...
89New York Ratifying Convention. Fourth Speech of July 22, [22 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Ham[ilton]—this will increase appeals—but does not much oppose—[Samuel] Jones—this will seldom happen—& cannot last Ham[ilton]—it may opperate to the prejudice of the poor— Gilbert Livingston MS Notes, MS Division, New York Public Library. In this speech H was discussing the following proposed amendment to the Constitution: “That Congress shall not constitute ordain or establish any Tribunals...
90New York Ratifying Convention. Fifth Speech of July 22, [22 July 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
Ham[ilton]—objects— because the Court ap[pointed] by Legislature Chan[cellor Robert R. Livingston]—these Judges or commisioners may be under the same influence as the Legislature themselves—therefore to be avoided. Ham[ilton]—of the same opinion. [Samuel] Jones—wishes security under these Courts—sees great inconveniency in having a Court totally independent—wishes some mode to remedy the evil—...