27021New York Assembly. Address of the New York Legislature to Governor George Clinton, [20 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
We the Representatives of the People of the State of New-York in Assembly, beg leave to assure your Excellency, that the several important matters mentioned in your Excellency’s Speech, and communicated in the papers that accompany it, shall, in the course of the Session engage our most serious attention. With dispositions truly fœderal, we shall take into consideration the different acts of...
27022New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [23 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The house then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, on the election bill, on the paragraph enabling the inspectors to take aside any ignorant person, and to examine him privately touching his ballot. A small debate arose. Mr. Hamilton, thought it was very apparent, if the clause prevailed in the house, that it would tend to increase rather than prevent an improper influence. For...
27023New York Assembly. Motion that a Committee be Appointed to Consider a Letter from the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, [23 … (Hamilton Papers)
Resolved , That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a Committee be appointed to consider and report on the letter from the Secretary of Foreign Affairs to his Excellency the Governor, and the papers accompanying it, together with the act of the Legislature entitled “An act relative to debts due to persons within the enemies lines;” passed the twelfth of July, one thousand seven hundred...
27024New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [24 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
A debate arose upon the clause, authorising the inspector or any other person to require the person offering himself to poll, to take an oath of abjuration of ecclesiastical as well as civil obedience. Mr. Hamilton declared the constitution to be their creed and standard, and ought never to be departed from; but in the present instance it was proper first to examine and inquire how far it...
27025New York Assembly. Motion on an Act for Regulating Elections, [24 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
A clause in the bill, ordering the judges of election for governor and lieutenant governor, to destroy the whole ballots of every district where there was an excess of even one vote. This was shewn by Mr. Hamilton to be a very great injustice to the district, as it was in the power of the clerk or any officer, by putting in an additional ballot, to set aside the votes of 500 persons; he...
27026New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [27 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton observed they were going on dangerous ground. The best rule the committee could follow was that held out in the constitution; which it would be safest to adhere to without alteration or addition. If we once depart from this rule, there is no saying where it will end. To-day, a majority of the persons sitting here from a particular mode of thinking disqualify one description of...
27027New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [29 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton thought the subject was nearly exhausted, from what had been said on a former occasion. He insisted strongly upon the distinction drawn by the constitution, he thought this clause did not comport with what was there held out. The requisite and constitutional qualifications to be required of electors, was there precisely ascertained, they are to possess certain estates and swear...
27028New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [30 January 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton, the more he thought upon this subject, the more clearly he discovered its mischievous tendency, for nothing was more evident to him than that it put every unlettered person greatly in the power of the inspector—and when we consider the great number of which this class of men consist in some places of one half or one third of the whole district, it is easily perceivable that...
27029New York Assembly. Motion for Leave to Bring in a Bill, [3 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton moved for leave to bring in a bill to amend the charter of the Corporation for the relief of Widows and Children of Clergymen in communion of the Church of England, in America. Ordered , That leave be given accordingly. Mr. Hamilton, according to leave, brought in the said bill, entitled An act to amend the Charter of the Corporation for the relief of the Widows and Children of...
27030New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Concerning Wrecks at Sea, [3 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton was not satisfied with the punishment of fines and imprisonment to be inflicted on those persons who despoil’d the distressed of their property; persons cast away, were objects of commiseration, and every person who was so callous as to add to their misfortune, deserved more severe punishment. In England it was made death without benefit of clergy, this he thought too severe, and...