201H. G. Letter X, 4 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Sometime in the latter part of the year 1785, or beginning of 1786, the state of Virginia proposed the holding a convention for the purpose of devising some system of commercial regulations for the United States. This state among others acceded to the proposition; and the deputies from different states appointed pursuant to it met at Annapolis in the fall of 1786. But the number actually...
202H. G. Letter XI, 6 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
One of the circumstances stated to you in mine of the 26th of February, to shew that the Governor is unfriendly to the UNION, is that he prejudged and condemned the new Constitution before it was framed. This fact has been long since given to the public; to which no other answer, that I have heard, has been made by his Excellency, or his friends, than that he as a citizen had a right to...
203H. G. Letter XI, [7 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
The next in order of the circumstances, alledged in proof of the unfriendly disposition of the Governor to the Union, is that he opposed the new constitution after it appeared, with unreasonable obstinacy . To judge of the propriety of this observation, it ought to be recollected, that the merits or demerits of that constitution must after all, be in a great measure a speculative question,...
204H. G. Letter XII, 8 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The seventh of the circumstances enumerated in proof of his Excellency’s enmity to the Union is, That he has continued his opposition to the new constitution even since its adoption by this state. There are two kinds of opposition, direct and indirect. The Governor must have been an idiot to have rendered himself chargeable with the first kind. It would have brought the resentment of the whole...
205H. G. Letter XIII, 9 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The last of the circumstances mentioned by me in my letter of the 26th of February, as evincive of the inimical disposition of the governor towards the union, is that he is unfriendly to the residence of Congress in this city. This may be inferred from the disrespectful manner in which he has treated that honorable body, aggregately and individually, as detailed in some former letters; and...
206Motion Intended to Be Made at a Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati, 11 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] March 11, 1789 . At a meeting of the New York Society of the Cincinnati “held on the 11th of March, at the Holland Lodge, Hamilton informed the Society that he intended to move at the next meeting, for the following By-Law, to be annexed to those already established by the Society, to wit: ‘That each Treasurer of the Society, before he enters upon the execution of his office,...
207Subscription to the New-York Manufacturing Society, [17 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, March 17, 1789. ] On this date Hamilton’s name was listed as one of the subscribers to the New-York Manufacturing Society. The [New York] Daily Advertiser , March 17, 1789. The New-York Manufacturing Society had been organized on January 7, 1789. At a later meeting it was resolved to raise a fund by subscription for the establishment of a woolen factory, the shares to be £10 each....
208From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, [18 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Some short time after the evacuation of this City, on the occasion of certain irregularities committed (I think by Sears and others in regard to Rivington) The Council for the temporary government came to some resolution, or agreed upon some proclamation of a spirited nature for discountenan[c]ing such proceedings which was delivered to the Governor to publish. He kept it in his hands and did...
209H. G. to Marinus Willett, [19 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I perceive by this day’s Advertiser that you have thought proper to come forward, with an air of triumph, to contradict a fact alledged in my sixth letter respecting a proclamation of the council for the temporary government of the southern district. You have been pleased to preface it with some general observations, and among the rest to make a profession of your faith in the virtue of the...
210From Alexander Hamilton to Robert R. Livingston, 22 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you on Wednesday evening, respecting the circumstances attending the suppression of a certain proclamation issued by the Council for the temporary Government of the Southern district, on account of the conduct of Sears Lamb and Willet in stopping Rivington’s press. It runs in my mind very strongly, that I was informed by Mr. Benson & yourself that the Governor had stayed the...
211Marinus Willett to H. G., [23 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Marinus Willett informs H___ G___, that it is not his wish to divert him from the pursuit of his plan of defamation. M. Willett, is no letter writer, he had it only in view by a plain and candid relation to detect a false representation of a transaction in which he was a principal. It is by no means his intention to intrude on the public by investigating the causes which led to the...
212H. G. to Marinus Willett, [24 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
H___ G___, for public reasons does not think it expedient to relinquish the character in which he appears in the newspapers; nor does he consider it as necessary to do so, for either of the purposes mentioned by Mr. Willett. Mr. W___ being a mere volunteer in the business, can at any rate have no claim to such a relinquishment. He will do well to recollect, that he did not confine himself to...
213To Alexander Hamilton from Phineas Howell, 24 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Newburgh [ New York ] March 24, 1789 . States that a meeting of freeholders of Newburgh “by a very great majority” had nominated Robert Yates for governor and Pierre Van Cortlandt for lieutenant governor. The [New York] Daily Advertiser , March 30, 1789. Howell was chairman of a meeting to consider a circular letter from “a committee of the citizens of the city and county of New-York, of the...
214To Alexander Hamilton from John Wynkoop, 25 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Your Conduct having always evinced, not only a fervent and enlightened Zeal for the Rights and Liberties of the People but a Capacity of deciding justly on great constitutional Questions; I make no apology for addressing you on this Occasion. The 25th. Article of the Constitution of this State declares “that the Chancellor and Judges of the Supreme Court, shall not at the same Time hold any...
215From Alexander Hamilton to Jonathan Dayton, [26 March 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
Circumstances prevented my seeing a certain Gentleman. But I have reflected more fully on the subject of our conversation. I continue strongly inclined to the opinion that the Council ought to have canvassed prior to the day appointed for the Meeting of Congress upon the returns then before them, and that the subsequent canvass has been irregular and is void. But as to the second point—the...
216From Alexander Hamilton to William S. Johnson, 27 March 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
The bearer of this is a Mr. Claxton, who is desirous of being a messenger or something equivalent. I feel an interest in his success, as he is a man of qualifications superior to his present aims. His memorial, which he will deliver you, is of his own drafting, by which you will perceive that he has some literary pretension. He has followed the Printing business; but from the ill effect of it...
217From Alexander Hamilton to the Electors of the State of New York, [1 April 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
To the Independent and Patriotic Electors of the State of NewYork. It is not long since we addressed you on the subject of the ensuing election of a chief magistrate, and communicated to you the proceedings, which had then taken place in this city in relation to it. Within a few days past, there has appeared an address signed by Mr. Jonathan Lawrence, as the chairman of a committee, said to...
218From Alexander Hamilton to ———, [6 April 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
The Committee appointed to promote the election of Judge Yates as Governor have requested Mr. John Jackson a Merchant of this City to proceed into your County for the purpose of making such communications to the inhabitants of it as may be necessary to inform them of the reasons which influence this City & County in desiring a change in the person of the Chief Magistrate. From the opinion we...
219To Alexander Hamilton from Anthony Wayne, 6 April 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
Permit me to introduce to your acquaintance Brigr General James Jackson, (a representative from Georgia to Congress) he is my particular friend, who in the Campaign of 1782 Commanded the State Legion which composed my Vanguard. I know him to be A Valuable Citizen a good soldier & an honest man, & as such I wish you to introduce him to your Military & other acquaintances, & whatever Civilities...
220From Alexander Hamilton to the Electors of the State of New York, [7 April 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
For the New-York Journal, &c. Mr. Greenleaf, You are requested to publish this address in your Next Thursday’s paper. By order of the Committee, Alex Hamilton, Chairman. New-York, April 7, 1789. To the Independent and Patriotic Electors Of the State of NewYork. In our last address, we mentioned to you our intention of offering some remarks upon that which has been lately published by the...
221H. G. Letter XIV, 9 April 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
In mine of the 25th of February last, I observed, that there were reasons to conclude that the Governor’s conduct, immediately after the evacuation of this city, had been influenced by condescentions to those who were at the time advocates for persecution, which in some measure involved him in their policy; and in confirmation of this idea I mentioned some circumstances, as they then presented...
222Account with the State of New York, [14 April 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
State of N.Y. to Alexander Hamilton for services as Member of Congress from 21 Feby–5 May 73 days “ 26 May–14 June 19 “ 30 July–18 Oct 79 171 “ deduct from attendance 43 128 @ 24 £153.12 audited 14 April 1789 D , New York State Library, Albany. H was elected to the Continental Congress on January 22, 1788. He served from February 25 to October 10, 1788.
223Receipt for Money Received from New York State, 14 April 1789 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] April 14, 1789 . Acknowledges receipt of £112 for services as counsel in a controversy between New York and Massachusetts. DS , Rosenbach Foundation, Philadelphia. For information on H’s services as counsel for New York in a controversy between that state and Massachusetts, see “Notes on the History of North and South America,” December, 1786 . Also see H to the Agents of the...
224H. G. to Marinus Willett, [15 April 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
H___ G___. having been informed that Mr. Willet has received a letter from the Attorney General, stating the circumstances of the interview between them, takes occasion to express his expectation that Mr. Willett will communicate it to the public. The [New York] Daily Advertiser , April 15, 1789. For information on the controversy between “H.G.” and Willett, see “H.G. Letters. Introductory...
225From Alexander Hamilton to the Electors of the City and County of New York, [28 April 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
For the New-York Daily Gazette. To the Electors of the City and County of New York. Fellow Citizens, This day commences the important Election of a Governor, for the next three years. We think it our duty to inform you, that from the account we have received from different quarters, we have the strongest grounds to believe, that a change is in your power , and that proper exertions on your...