Alexander Hamilton Papers

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

LC, George Washington Papers, Library of Congress.

1The 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 (Journal of the House, I description begins Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States (Washington, 1826). description ends , 387).

2“An Act to incorporate the subscribers to the Bank of the United States” (1 Stat. description begins The Public Statutes at Large of the United States of America (Boston, 1845). description ends 191 [February 25, 1791]).

3Philip Schuyler, H’s father-in-law, had been elected to the Senate from New York in 1789.

4Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Senator from Maryland.

5Senate Rule XIII provided that “readings [of a bill] shall be on three different days, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise” (Annals of Congress description begins The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; with an Appendix, Containing Important State Papers and Public Documents, and All the Laws of a Public Nature (Washington, 1834–1849). description ends , I, 21).

6February 25, 1791, was a Friday. See note 1.

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