27421Constitutional Convention. Withdrawal of a Motion, [10 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col: Hamilton withdrew the remainder of the motion to postpone art XXII, observing that his purpose was defeated by the vote just given. Hunt and Scott, Debates Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America. Reported by James Madison (New York, 1920). , 543. In “Constitutional Convention....
27422Constitutional Convention. Remarks on the Number of Votes Required in Congress to Override a Presidential Veto, [12 … (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton added his testimony to the fact that 2/3 in N. York had been ineffectual either where a popular object, or a legislative faction operated; of which he mentioned some instances. Hunt and Scott, Debates Gaillard Hunt and James Brown Scott, eds., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America. Reported by James Madison (New...
27423From Alexander Hamilton to The Daily Advertiser, [15 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton, in his absence from New York on public duty (with how much propriety and temper his fellow citizens must decide) has been attacked by name, as the Writer of a publication printed in Mr. Childs’ paper of the 21st of July last. In fixing that publication upon him, there is certainly no mistake; nor did he ever mean to be concealed. He left his name with the Printer, to be disclosed...
27424Constitutional Convention. Remarks on Signing the Constitution, [17 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton expressed his anxiety that every member should sign. A few characters of consequence, by opposing or even refusing to sign the Constitution, might do infinite mischief by kindling the latent sparks which lurk under an enthusiasm in favor of the Convention which may soon subside. No man’s ideas were more remote from the plan than his were known to be; but is it possible to...
27425Draft of a Constitution, [17 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
§ 6 A senator when impeached shall continue to exercise his office until conviction The People of the United States of America do ordain and establish this constitution for the government of themselves and their Posterity. Article I § 1 The Legislative power shall be vested in two distinct bodies of men one to be called the Assembly the other the Senate, subject to the negative hereinafter...
27426Constitution of the United States, 17 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, September 17, 1787. Not only was Hamilton one of the signers of this document but the names of the states listed before the names of the signers are also in Hamilton’s writing. D , on display at the National Archives.
27427Conjectures about the New Constitution, [17–30 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The new constitution has in favour of its success these circumstances—a very great weight of influence of the persons who framed it, particularly in the universal popularity of General Washington—the good will of the commercial interest throughout the states which will give all its efforts to the establishment of a government capable of regulating protecting and extending the commerce of the...
27428From Alexander Hamilton to William Neilson, 21 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] September 21, 1787 . “You will recollect the cause of Hayton against van Kleeck put into my hands by you.… I hope it will not be inconvenient to you [to] take care of my Costs.” ALS , Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Neilson was an alderman and merchant of New York City.
27429To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 24 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, September 24, 1787. “… I wish to know if the process against Mr. Livingston was served and return made to the … July Term and if any thing more is wanted for the effectual prosecution of that suit. Please to look over the papers I left, and judge, if the accts. stated by the sheriff, and the writing thereon be not sufficient to empower me to carry on a suit.…” ALS , Hamilton...
27430To Alexander Hamilton from Samuel Brailsford, 25 September 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Charleston, South Carolina, September 25, 1787. “Mr Mullett lately transmited me Copy of your Letter to him of the 22d July, together with his answer, which I approve, tho’ he was mistaken in saying that the terms on which Wooldridge has been liberated, were all that I required; as there was another matter of great importance that I wished to accomplish previous to that event, & on which I...
27431[Caesar No. I], [28 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The [New York] Daily Advertiser , October 1, 1787. The only evidence for the assumption that H wrote the “Caesar” letters in reply to the letters of “Cato,” presumably written by George Clinton, is a letter printed by Paul Leicester Ford ( Essays on the Constitution of the United States [Brooklyn, New York, 1892], 245). Ford states that this letter is in the George Clinton Papers, New York...
27432To Alexander Hamilton from Angelica Church, [2 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
You had every right my dear brother to believe that I was very inattentive not to have answered your letter; but I could not relinquish the hopes that you would be tempted to ask the reason of my Silence, which would be a certain means of obtaining the second letter when perhaps had I answered the first, I should have lost all the fine things contained in the Latter. Indeed my dear, Sir if my...
27433From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [11–15 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
You probably saw some time since some animadversions on certain expressions of Governor Clinton respecting the Convention. You may have seen a piece signed a Republican, attempting to bring the fact into question and endeavouring to controvert the conclusions drawn from it, if true. My answer you will find in the inclosed. I trouble you with it merely from that anxiety which is natural to...
27434To Alexander Hamilton from Marquis de Lafayette, 15 October 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
While you Have Been Attending your Most Important Convention, debates were also Going on in france Respecting the Constitutional Rights, and Matters of that kind. Great Reforms are taking place at Court. The Parliaments are Remonstrating, and our provincial Assemblies Begin to pop out. Amidst Many things that were not Much to the purpose, some Good principles Have Been laid out, and altho our...
27435[Caesar No. II], [15 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The [New York] Daily Advertiser , October 15, 1787. For a discussion of the arguments for and against H’s authorship of the “Caesar” letters, see “Caesar No. I,” September 28, 1787 . The second “Caesar” letter was written in reply to “Cato II” which was published in The New-York Journal, and Daily Patriotic Register , October 11, 1787.
27436To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 18 October 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Your favor without date came to my hand by the last Post. It is with unfeigned concern I perceive that a political dispute has arisen between Governor Clinton and yourself. For both of you I have the highest esteem and regard. But as you say it is insinuated by some of your political adversaries, and may obtain credit, “that you palmed yourself upon me, and was dismissed from my family;” and...
27437To Alexander Hamilton from Gaspard Joseph Amand Ducher, 26 October 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
je suis arrivé ici apres bien des fatigues et des dangers; je me Repose et j’en ai grand Besoin. Rappelles vous, je vous prie, que vous m’aves promis Deux pièces Relatives à La nouvelle constitution; je les attends avec Le plus grand empressement et je vous scaurai gré de me faire passer tous les pamphlets qui seront imprimés sur ce sujet. mes Respects je vous prie à Madame hamilton. jai...
27438Baron von Steuben to George Washington, [26 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I have lately made a fresh application to Congress for a final settlement of my affairs on the ground of a contract made with that honorable body previous to my joining the American army. The particulars and the evidence of that contract are stated in a printed pamphlet a copy of which Mr. Hamilton informs me he has transmitted to your Excellency. I have been just informed that Congress intend...
27439Introductory Note: The Federalist, [27 October 1787–28 May 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
The Federalist essays have been printed more frequently than any other work of Hamilton. They have, nevertheless, been reprinted in these volumes because no edition of his writings which omitted his most important contribution to political thought could be considered definitive. The essays written by John Jay and James Madison, however, have not been included. They are available in many...
27440The Federalist No. 1, [27 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New York. After an unequivocal experience of the inefficacy of the subsisting Fœderal Government, you are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America. The subject speaks its own importance; comprehending in its consequences, nothing less than the existence of the UNION, the safety and welfare of the parts of which it is...
27441From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [30 October 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I am much obliged to Your Excellency for the explicit manner in which you contradict the insinuations mentioned in my last letter. The only use I shall make of your answer will be to put it into the hands of a few friends. The constitution proposed has in this state warm friends and warm enemies. The first impressions every where are in its favour; but the artillery of its opponents makes some...
27442From Alexander Hamilton to James Madison, [October 1787–March 4, 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
If Mr. Madison should be disengaged this Evening Mr. Hamilton would be obliged by an opportunity of conversing with him at his lodgings for half an hour. If engaged this Evening he will thank him to say whether tomorrow Evening will suit. AL , James Madison Papers, Library of Congress. H’s note is undated. It probably was written between October, 1787, and March 4, 1788, a period during which...
27443To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 10 November 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
I thank you for the Pamphlet, and for the Gazette contained in your letter of the 30th. Ulto. For the remaining numbers of Publius, I shall acknowledge myself obliged as I am persuaded the subject will be well handled by the Author. The new Constitution has, as the public prints will have informed you, been handed to the people of this state by an unanimous vote of the Assembly; but it is not...
27444The Federalist No. 6, [14 November 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. THE three last numbers of this Paper have been dedicated to an enumeration of the dangers to which we should be exposed, in a state of disunion, from the arms and arts of foreign nations. I shall now proceed to delineate dangers of a different, and, perhaps, still more alarming kind, those which will in all probability flow from dissentions between the...
27445From Alexander Hamilton to Pierre Van Cortlandt, Junior, 15 November 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, November 15, 1787. The catalogue description of this letter reads as follows: “Hamilton’s letter relates to a mortgage held by Col. Trumbull the title to which is in question, and asks Mr. Van Cortlandt to search the title.” Letter not found ]. ALS , sold at Parke-Bernet Galleries, February 11, 1941, Lot 137. Van Cortlandt had been a clerk in H’s law office from 1784 to 1786.
27446To Alexander Hamilton from John Witherspoon, 16 November 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
I have just received your Letter inclosing Baron Steubens Printed Paper In answer please to knew that Nothing passed between me & the Committee that can be constructed as the least Contradiction to which I certified formerly. They asked now whether there was an actual or explicit Contract with Baron Steuben verbally though not written I answerd that there was not any proper formal Contract...
27447The Federalist No. 7, [17 November 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. It is sometimes asked, with an air of seeming triumph, what inducements could the States have, if disunited, to make war upon each other? It would be a full answer to this question to say—precisely the same inducements, which have, at different times, deluged in blood all the nations in the world. But unfortunately for us, the question admits of a more...
27448The Federalist No. 8, [20 November 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. ASSUMING it therefore as an established truth that the several States, in case of disunion, or such combinations of them as might happen to be formed out of the wreck of the general confederacy, would be subject to those vicissitudes of peace and war, of friendship and enmity with each other, which have fallen to the lot of all neighbouring nations not...
27449From Alexander Hamilton to Benjamin Rush, 21 November [1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I send you herewith a Series of political papers under the denomination of the Federalist published in favor of the new Constitution. They do good here and it is imagined some of the last numbers might have a good effect upon some of your Quaker Members of Convention. They are going on and appear evidently to be written by different hands and to aim at a full examination of the subject....
27450The Federalist No. 9, [21 November 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
To the People of the State of New-York. A Firm Union will be of the utmost moment to the peace and liberty of the States as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection. It is impossible to read the history of the petty Republics of Greece and Italy, without feeling sensations of horror and disgust at the distractions with which they were continually agitated, and at the rapid...