From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [24 February 1791]
To George Washington
[Philadelphia, February 24, 1791]1
Sir,
The Bill supplementary to the Bank bill2 passed the House of representatives yesterday. General Schuyler3 informs me that the friends of the Bank proposed that it should pass to a second reading immediately, and that Mr. Carroll4 opposed it, and moved that it should be printed—that by rule of the House it was of necessity to comply with Mr. Carroll’s objection, a departure requiring unanimous consent.5 That accordingly the bill was deferred till to day, & in the mean time ordered to be printed.
It will doubtless pass, if there are not studied delays on the part of the opposers of the Bank.
I have the honor to be With perfect respect Sir Your Obedt. Servt.
A. Hamilton
Feby. 25th. 1791.
LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.
1. The MS is incorrectly dated February 25. The bill, which H in the first sentence states passed the House “yesterday,” passed the House on February 23 ( , 387).
2. “An Act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States” ( 191 [February 25, 1791]).
3. Philip Schuyler, H’s father-in-law, had been elected to the Senate from New York in 1789.
4. Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Senator from Maryland.
5. Senate Rule XIII provided that “readings [of a bill] shall be on three different days, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise” ( , I, 21).
6. February 25, 1791, was a Friday. See note 1.