New York Ratifying Convention. Fourth Speech of June 21, [21 June 1788]
New York Ratifying Convention
Fourth Speech of June 21
[Poughkeepsie, New York, June 21, 1788]
Mr. Hamilton. I only rise to observe that the gentleman has misunderstood me.1 What I meant to express was this; that if we argued from possibilities only; if we reasoned from chances, or an ungovernable propensity to evil, instead of taking into view the controul, which the nature of things, or the form of the constitution provided; the argument would lead us to withdraw all confidence from our fellow-citizens, and discard the chimerical idea of government: This is a true deduction from such reasoning.2
, 47.
1. H spoke in reply to the following remarks by Governor George Clinton:
“The gentleman [H] has attempted to give an unjust and unnatural coloring to my observations. I am really at a loss to determine whence he draws his inference. I declare, that the dissolution of the Union is, of all events, the remotest from my wishes. That gentleman may wish for a consolidated—I wish for a federal republic. The object of both of us is a firm energetic government: and we may both have the good of our country in view; though we disagree as to the means of procuring it. It is not fair reasoning, to infer that a man wants no government at all, because he attempts to qualify it so as to make it safe and easy.” (
, 47.)2. John McKesson reported H as merely saying: “The State Governmt. will inform the People of the abuses of the State” (John McKesson MS Notes, New-York Historical Society, New York City).