31Report of a Committee of the Trustees of Columbia College, 13 March 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 13, 1788. On this date Hamilton and Morgan Lewis, members of a committee to whom was referred an “Application of Messrs. Van Zandt and Kettlelas,” reported that the two men had offered to pay in 1776 the full amount of principal and interest due on their bond to the college in continental currency and that the treasurer of the college had refused the payment. D , signed by H...
32From Alexander Hamilton to Thomas Mullett, 23 July 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York ] July 23, 1787 . “The want of Some original papers which Mr. Brailsford was to have Sent me, puts it out of my power to proceed to a trial of his Cause with Wooldridge.… Mr. Wooldridge is willing, if I will let him out on Common bail, to give me a Bond in any Sum … that he will not go out of this State … and that he will not give any impedment or delay to the attachments now...
33From Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Breese, William Malcom, and Aaron Burr, April 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, April, 1787 ] “Mrs. Bayard Widow of Mr Samuel Bayard deceased has applied to me to arrange with you some provision for her in persuance of the Will of her husband representing her situation as distressed in the extreme, and assuring me that she is willing to do whatever I shall advise towards a fair adjustment of matters between you and her.…” Copy, Hamilton Papers, Library of...
34New 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...
35New 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...
36From 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...
37New York Assembly. Remarks on Several Petitions from Columbia County, [5 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
On motion of Mr. Sickles, the house went into a committee of the whole on the different petitions from Columbia county, respecting the place of holding courts, &c. Mr. Bancker in the chair. After reading several petitions and affidavits, Mr. James Livingston moved that the committee should rise, he did not see, he said, what the committee could do with the petitions. Mr. Jones thought it was...
38From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [23 March 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I have reflected on the subject of our conversation respecting the property belonging to Mr. Church and yourself now in the City of Philadelphia and agree in opinion with you that it will be altogether adviseable to remove it from that place to this City or Connecticut or both, so as to have it more immediately under your eye. I would therefore by all means advise the step. I remain Yr....
39New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Raising Certain Yearly Taxes Within This State, [9 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton said that much time had been already spent in the discussion of this bill. He perceived there now was objections, why were they not made before. The bill be believed was perfectly understood by the committee, he wished therefore that a serious question might be taken, if it was to be rejected. he wished it to be done at once, the session was far advanced, and if this system was...
40From Alexander Hamilton to John Auldjo, [26 July 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I have delivered the paper you committed to me as it stood altered to Major Peirce from whose conduct I am to conclude the affair between you is at an end. He informs me that he is shortly to set out on a jaunt up the North River. As you intimate a wish to have my sentiments in writing on the transaction I shall with pleasure declare that the steps you have taken in consequence of Mr. Pearces...
41From Alexander Hamilton to Jeremiah Wadsworth, [20 August 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The inclosed is said to be the Copy of a letter circulating in your state. The history of its appearance among us is that it was sent by one Whitmore of Stratford, formerly in the Pay Master Generals Office to a James Reynold of this City. I am at a loss clearly to understand its object—and have some suspicion that it has been fabricated to excite jealousy against the Convention with a view to...
42From Alexander Hamilton to John Jay, [3 May 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I this morning received your letter of yesterday. I have seen with pain the progress of the transactions, which have excited irritations between Mr. Livingston and yourself, and as my dispositions to both, in whatever I have had to do with the matter, have been friendly, I should with reluctance do any thing, that might affect either, further than a regard to truth and propriety should make it...
43New 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...
44New 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...
45Campaign Broadside, 12 April 1788 (Hamilton Papers)
From a sincere Attachment to yourselves, and a Regard to our mutual Interest, we are induced to apprize you of our Opinions on a Subject, which we view as of the most essential Consequence to both. YOUR Countrymen in New-York, in Union of Sentiment with the true Friends of America, have long lamented the want of a FIRM, NATIONAL GOVERNMENT; without which they consider Property as insecure, and...
46Draft of an Act to Incorporate the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Marbletown, [January–February 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
[ New York, January–February, 1788. ] In 1788, Hamilton drafted an “Act to incorporate the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Marble-town.” ADf , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. The draft was presumably submitted to the New York legislature. If so, the legislature refused to act on it, for the town of Marbletown was incorporated by a general act of incorporation dated March 7, 1788 (see “An...
47Constitutional Convention. Motion on Citizenship Requirement for Membership in the House of Representatives, [13 August … (Hamilton Papers)
Col. Hamilton was in general agst. embarrassing the Govt. with minute restrictions. There was on one side the possible danger that had been suggested On the other side, the advantage of encouraging foreigners was obvious & admitted. Persons in Europe of moderate fortunes will be fond of coming here where they will be on a level with the first Citizens. He moved that the section be so altered...
48Second Draft of an Act for Raising Certain Yearly Taxes Within This State, [9 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Plan of Specific Taxation to be substituted to the Present mode by assessment: Together with the supposed product and the appropriation of each tax. I Land tax of 3 pence per acre upon all meadow land. 2 d. per acre upon all arable land. Suppose in the whole state about 40.000 farmers each farm containing upon an average 10 acres of meadow and 40 acres of arable land; The prod⟨uct⟩ of this tax...
49From Alexander Hamilton to Rufus King, [28 August 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
I wrote to you some days since, that to request you to inform me when there was a prospect of your finishing as I intended to be with you, for certain reasons, before the conclusion. It is whispered here that some late changes in your scheme have taken place which give it a higher tone. Is this the case? I leave town today, to attend a circuit in a neighbouring County, from which I shall...
50New 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...
51New York Assembly. Motion for Leave to Bring in a Bill on the Independence of Vermont, [14 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton moved for leave to bring in a bill, to authorise the delegates of this State in Congress, to accede to, ratify and confirm, the independence and Sovereignty of the people inhabiting the district of country, commonly called Vermont. Ordered , That leave be given accordingly. Mr. Hamilton according to leave, brought in the said bill entitled, An act to authorise the Delegates of [ t...
52Constitutional Convention. Nomination of William Jackson as Secretary of the Constitutional Convention, 25 May 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 25, 1787. On this date Hamilton nominated Major William Jackson as secretary of the Constitutional Convention. 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), 18. Of the many editions of Madison’s notes of debates in the...
53Constitutional Convention. Notes Taken in the Federal Convention, [1–26 June 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
[ Notes for June 1, 1787] [Madison] 1— The way to prevent a majority from having an interest to oppress the minority is to enlarge the sphere. Madison 2— Elective Monarchies turbulent and unhappy— Men unwilling to admit so decided a superiority of merit in an individual as to accede to his appointment to so preeminent a station. If several are admitted as there will be many competitors of...
54New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act for Regulating Elections, [6 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton observed that when the discriminating clauses admitted into the bill by that house, were introduced, he was restrained by motives of respect for the sense of a respectable part of the house, from giving it any other opposition, than a simple vote. The limited operation, they would have, made him less anxious about their adoption: but he could not reconcile it to his judgment, or...
55New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Acknowledging the Independence of Vermont, [14 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The public have reason to regret your indisposition, as it deprives them of the satisfaction they would otherwise have received from reading verbatim , the judicious speech of that zealous patriot Col. Hamilton, on his bill for recommending to Congress to admit into the union the assumed state of Vermont. As there has and still continues to be much contrariety of opinion on this interesting...
56Petition to the Corporation of the City of New York in Common Council, 21 March 1787 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, March 21, 1787. Hamilton was one of eighteen petitioners who, on this date, requested the New York City Common Council to remove a statute of William Pitt located “in the most central Part” of Wall and Smith Streets. The statue, the petition stated, “greatly obstructs the free Passage of Carriages &c., through both Wall & Smith Streets.” DS , Municipal Archives and Records Center,...
57Constitutional Convention. Remarks in Favor of a Motion Increasing the Number in the House of Representatives, [8 … (Hamilton Papers)
Col: Hamilton expressed himself with great earnestness and anxiety in favor of the motion. He avowed himself a friend to a vigorous Government, but would declare at the same time, that he held it essential that the popular branch of it should be on a broad foundation. He was seriously of opinion that the House of Representatives was on so narrow a scale as to be really dangerous, and to...
58Constitutional Convention. Remarks on the Ratification of the Constitution, [10 September 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton . No Convention convinced of the necessity of the plan will refuse to give it effect on the adoption by nine States. He thought this mode less exceptionable than the one proposed in the article, and would attain the same end. 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...
59New York Assembly. Report on a Petition from George Fisher, [8 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
Mr. Hamilton, from the Committee to whom was referred the petition of George Fisher, reported, that they have enquired into the circumstances of his case, and are of opinion that it will be proper to grant him relief, either by taking back the land mentioned in his petition, and returning the deposit money, or by setting off to him so much of the land as will amount to the deposit money, in...
60From Alexander Hamilton to Gouverneur Morris, [19 May 1788] (Hamilton Papers)
I acknowlege my delinquency in not thanking you before for your obliging letter from Richmond. But the truth is that I have been so overwhelmed in avocations of one kind or another that I have scarcely had a moment to spare to a friend. You I trust will be the less disposed to be inexorable, as I hope you believe there is no one for whom I have more inclination than yourself—I mean of the male...