181To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 12 April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
It is an Age since I Heard from you. Of you I Hear By some of our friends, and in the News Papers. But altho I Have a Right to Complain, I want to let you know the proceedings of our Assembly, which as it is Unusual in France, May Raise Your Curiosity. Our Constitution is pretty much what it was in England Before it Had Been fairly writen down, and Minutely preserved; so that we Have great...
182New York Assembly. Remarks on an Amendment to an Act Relative to Debts Due Persons Within the Enemy’s Lines, [12 April … (Hamilton Papers)
Went into a committee on the bill to repeal the citation acts.… Mr. Hamilton advocated the bill with great ability and candor; he mentioned the bad effects of the present laws; the difficulties that the courts of justice threw in the way of them—and the impossibility ever to amend them is such a manner as to have them acted upon. He urged the influence the opinion of our courts ought to have...
183To Alexander Hamilton from Daniel Coxe, 4 April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
London, April 4, 1787. “… Interested as I am in a large landed Property in the State of New Yorke; under former Grants of the Crown, and which not having been confiscated, is considered to be secure to me in virtue of the Treaty, I am anxious to be informed, from a Gentleman of your high Professional merit, whether or not, and how far, the Principle of Alienism , is adopted seriously by your...
184New York Assembly. Report on the Petition of Margaret Livingston, 31 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 31, 1787. On this date Hamilton, as chairman of a committee on the petition of Margaret Livingston, brought in a bill entitled “An act for dividing the township of New Stamford in Ulster county.” New York Assembly Journal Journal of the Assembly of the State of New York (Publisher and place vary, 1782–1788). , 1787, 129. The bill introduced by H was incorporated in “AN ACT for...
185New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Directing a Mode of Trial and Allowing of Divorces in Cases of Adultery, [28 March … (Hamilton Papers)
The house then went into the consideration of the objections of the council of revision to the divorce bill . The said objections being read. Col. Hamilton moved that, the bill pass into a law, notwithstanding the objections of the council. He did not he said like the clause which had been introduced by the senate, and on which the objections of the council were founded, but he would remedy...
186New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Acknowledging the Independence of Vermont, [28 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Chairman, The counsel for the petitioners has entered into a large field of argument against the present bill. He has endeavoured to shew that it is contrary to the constitution, to the maxims of sound policy and to the rights of property. His observations have not been destitute of weight. They appear to have the more force, as they are to a certain degree founded in truth. But it is the...
187New York Assembly. Report on the Petitions of Samuel Thompson, Josiah Gale, and Lemuel Conckling, 24 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 24, 1787. Hamilton, as chairman of a committee on “petitions of Samuel Thompson, Josiah Gale and others, and Lemuel Conckling,” recommended that “the said petitions ought to be taken into consideration, when the House shall proceed upon a report of Mr. Attorney general, on the cases of Elijah Hunter and others.” New York Assembly Journal Journal of the Assembly of the State of...
188New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act to Institute an University Within This State, [24 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton hoped the house would not recommit the bill. There was no doubt he said but the legislature possessed the right to give this power. There were frequent examples of the kind in Great Britain, where this power has been granted. No disadvantage he said could arise from it; on the contrary, many would be the benefits. He therefore wished the bill might be finished—as no doubt existed...
189New York Assembly. Remarks on the Quotas to be Assigned the Several Counties of New York, [22 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton did not suppose that any arguments would have much influence on the decision of this question. There is no criterion to go by and we fall into the greatest uncertainty—a gentleman has told us plainly, that he has been intriguing, and making the best bargain he could for his county. He would not say that New-York had made any conditions—he hoped that the intrigues might not have...
190Petition to the Corporation of the City of New York in Common Council, 21 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 21, 1787. Hamilton was one of eighteen petitioners who, on this date, requested the New York City Common Council to remove a statute of William Pitt located “in the most central Part” of Wall and Smith Streets. The statue, the petition stated, “greatly obstructs the free Passage of Carriages &c., through both Wall & Smith Streets.” DS , Municipal Archives and Records Center,...
191Petition to the Corporation of the City of New York in Common Council, 21 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 21, 1787. Hamilton and several other residents of Wall Street on this date petitioned the New York City Common Council to raise “the Pavements of the said Street in the middle thereof, so as to throw the Water on each side of the Street.” DS , Municipal Archives and Records Center, New York City.
192New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Repealing Part of the Trespass Act, [21 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
On motion of Col. Hamilton, the house went into a committee on the bill for repealing part of the trespass act. Mr. Hedges in the chair. Col. Hamilton said that this amendment to the trespass law, was only to repeal that part which was in violation of the public treaty. The courts of justice were at present in a delicate dilemma, obliged either to explain away a positive law of the state or...
193To Alexander Hamilton from Theodorick Bland, 20 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Richmond, March 20, 1787. Acknowledges receipt of a circular letter from Hamilton, James Duane, and William Duer concerning proposed alterations in the “Institution” of the Society of the Cincinnati and states that it will be reported to the next meeting of the state society. ALS , New-York Historical Society, New York City. Bland wrote in his capacity as vice president of the Virginia Society...
194New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for the Relief of Merchants in the City of New York, [20 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton supposed that it was agreed on all hands, that some relief should be granted—there was, he said two questions before the committee, one, if they would put them on a footing with the other citizens; and the other, if they did not merit something more. If said he, you receive their certificates, and grant them your own, you extend to them only that relief which you have already...
195New York Assembly. Report on a Letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, [16 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton, from the Committee appointed to consider of and report on the letter from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, to his Excellency the Governor, and the papers accompanying the same, together with the act of the Legislature, entitled, An act relative to Debts due to Persons within the Enemies Lines , reported, that it is the opinion of the Committee, that the said act ought to be...
196New York Assembly. Motion for Leave to Bring in a Bill on the Independence of Vermont, [14 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton moved for leave to bring in a bill, to authorise the delegates of this State in Congress, to accede to, ratify and confirm, the independence and Sovereignty of the people inhabiting the district of country, commonly called Vermont. Ordered , That leave be given accordingly. Mr. Hamilton according to leave, brought in the said bill entitled, An act to authorise the Delegates of [ t...
197Draft of an Act Acknowledging the Independence of Vermont, [14 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
An act to empower and direct the Delegates of this State in Congress to accede to ratify and confirm the Sovereignty and Independence of the People of the Territory commonly called and known by the name of the State of Vermont. Be it enacted by the People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same that the Delegates of...
198New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Acknowledging the Independence of Vermont, [14 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The public have reason to regret your indisposition, as it deprives them of the satisfaction they would otherwise have received from reading verbatim , the judicious speech of that zealous patriot Col. Hamilton, on his bill for recommending to Congress to admit into the union the assumed state of Vermont. As there has and still continues to be much contrariety of opinion on this interesting...
199Lease of College Lots, 10 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 10, 1787. On this date Hamilton and six others signed a lease to Frederick Rhinelander for “eleven water lotts adjacent to those he now occupies.” DS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. In 1787 Columbia College held ninety-one lots of which seventy-eight were leased.
200To Alexander Hamilton from Jacob Le Roy and Sons, 10 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 10, 1787. Request Hamilton to collect debts owed by several individuals to Broome and Platt, a firm indebted to Le Roy and Sons. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
201New York Assembly. Report on a Letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, [10 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton from the Committee to whom was referred the letter from the Honorable John Jay, Esquire, Secretary for foreign affairs, reported, that it is the opinion of the said Committee, that so much of the act, entitled, An act for granting a more effectual relief in cases of certain Trespasses , as makes all actions to be brought upon the said act transitory, and as declares that no...
202New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Raising Certain Yearly Taxes Within This State, [9 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton said that much time had been already spent in the discussion of this bill. He perceived there now was objections, why were they not made before. The bill be believed was perfectly understood by the committee, he wished therefore that a serious question might be taken, if it was to be rejected. he wished it to be done at once, the session was far advanced, and if this system was...
203New York Assembly. Remarks on an Amendment to an Act to Empower Justices of the Peace to Try Causes to the Value of Ten … (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Harpur moved for a clause to be added to the bill, in substance, that no freeholder or citizen shall hereafter be imprisoned for any sum less than ten pounds, but that execution shall issue and remain in force against the debtor, till from time to time by different seizures of his effects, the creditor shall be satisfied and fully paid. Col. Hamilton confessed that his own judgment was not...
204To Alexander Hamilton from David Beekman, 7 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
St. Croix, March 7, 1787. Requests Hamilton’s opinion on Beekman’s liability for a bail bond he signed with Gilbert Woodward. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Beekman was a partner in the St. Croix firm of Beekman and Cruger.
205New York Assembly. Appointment as Delegate to the Constitutional Convention, [6 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Resolved , that the Honorable Robert Yates, John Lansing, junior, and Alexander Hamilton, Esquires, be, and they are hereby declared duly nominated and appointed Delegates on the part of this State, to meet such Delegates as may be appointed on the part of the other States respectively, on the second Tuesday in May next, at Philadelphia, for the sole and express purpose of revising the...
206New York Assembly. Motion for Leave to Bring in a Bill for Vesting the Estate of Richard Maitland in Trustees, [5 March … (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton pursuant to concurrent resolutions of both Houses of the Legislature, on the 24th of March last, and the publication thereof in news-papers printed in the city of New-York, moved for leave to bring in a bill to vest the real and personal estate of Richard Maitland, Esq. deceased, in trustees for the payment of his debts, and the maintenance and education of his children. Ordered ,...
207New York Assembly. Remarks on Several Petitions from Columbia County, [5 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
On motion of Mr. Sickles, the house went into a committee of the whole on the different petitions from Columbia county, respecting the place of holding courts, &c. Mr. Bancker in the chair. After reading several petitions and affidavits, Mr. James Livingston moved that the committee should rise, he did not see, he said, what the committee could do with the petitions. Mr. Jones thought it was...
208To Alexander Hamilton from Robert R. Livingston, 3 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
I recd. your favor with the Barrons papers in hand, by the post, the letters you mention to have sent by a private hand never reached me. I enclose a letter to the Baron containing my opinion Tho I confess to you that I think that in publishing (as he told me he proposed) he will shew more resentment that prudence. He will provoke replies, he will be called upon to shew what he has lost, the...
209New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Raising Certain Yearly Taxes Within This State, [2 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Colonel Hamilton said, he did not believe it would be of much importance whether the word batchelor was out or not. It was known, however, that there were a great number of rich batchelors, who had no families to maintain, and as the lawyers had been taxed for the support of the judges, the house could, if they thought proper, raise a revenue from the batchelors, to give a bounty on old maids....
210New York Assembly. Motion for Leave to Bring in a Bill for the Speedy Trial and Punishment of Grand Larceny, [1 March … (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton moved for leave to bring in a bill for the speedy trial and punishment of such persons as shall commit any offence under the degree of Grand Larceny. Ordered , That leave be given accordingly. Mr. Hamilton according to leave, brought in the said bill, entitled, An act for the speedy Trial and Punishment of such persons as shall commit any offence, under the degree of Grand Larceny...