11The Farmer Refuted, &c., [23 February] 1775 (Hamilton Papers)
and splenetic, that I will venture to pronounce it one of the most ludicrous performances, which has been exhibited to public view, during all the present controversy....passion for conceit, and a noble disdain of being fettered by the laws of truth. These, Sir, are important qualifications, and these all unite in you, in a very eminent degree. So that, though you may never expect the...
12Alexander Hamilton’s Final Version of the Report on the Subject of Manufactures, [5 December 1791] (Hamilton Papers)
object of human industry. This position, generally, if not universally true, applies with peculiar emphasis to the United States, on account of their immense tracts of fertile territory, uninhabited and unimproved. Nothing can afford so advantageous an employment for......United States, by considerations which affect all nations, it is, in a manner, dictated to them by the imperious force of a...
13Alexander Hamilton’s Fourth Draft of the Report on the Subject of Manufactures, 1791 (Hamilton Papers)
object of human industry. This position “This policy is not only recommended to the United States, by considerations which affect all nations—it is, in a manner, dictated to them
14A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress, &c., [15 December] 1774 (Hamilton Papers)
...common sense is apparent in many respects: They endeavour to persuade us, that the absolute sovereignty of parliament does not imply our absolute slavery; that it is a Christian duty to submit to be plundered of all we have, merely because some of our fellow-subjects are wicked enough to require it of us, that slavery, so far from being a great evil, is a great blessing; and even, that our...
15The Defence of the Funding System, [July 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
It was proper for him to endeavour to unite two ingredients in his plan, intrinsic goodness [and] a reasonable probability of success....to have been this. That as the benefits to be derived from it would be individually equal to the citizens of every state so the burthens ought also to be individually equal among the citizens of all the states according to individual property and ability....
16New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Acknowledging the Independence of Vermont, [28 March 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
The first objection is drawn from that great principle of the social compact—that the chief object of government is to protect the rights of individuals by the united strength of the community. with a probability
17Eulogy on Nathanael Greene, [4 July 1789] (Hamilton Papers)
I am now called upon to perform. All the motives capable of interesting an ingenuous and feeling mind conspire to prompt me to its execution. To commemorate the talents virtues and exploits of great and good men is at all times a pleasing task to those, who know how to esteem them. But when such men to the title of superior merit join that of having been the defenders and guardians of our...
18From Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, [5 August] 1794 (Hamilton Papers)
...should be considered as inimical to the interests of the Country; and recommending to the Citizens of Washington County to treat every person who had accepted or might thereafter accept any such office with contempt, and absolutely to refuse all kind of communication or intercourse with the Officers and to withold from them all aid support or comfort...beyond the Alleghany...
19The Examination Number I, [17 December 1801] (Hamilton Papers)
Whether this has proceeded from pride or from humility, from a temperate love of reform, or from a wild spirit of innovation, is submitted to the conjectures of the curious. A single observation shall be indulged—since all agree, that he is unlike his predecessors in essential points, it is a mark of consistency to differ from them in matters of form....patriots must, at all events, please the...
20New York Assembly. Remarks on an Act Granting to Congress Certain Imposts and Duties, [15 February 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
It becomes therefore necessary,—to obviate such misapprehension, if any exists, and to discharge my duty at all events,—to lay the subject fully before the committee, and to detail, at large, my reasons for wishing to see the bill in its present form prevail. will protect me I may safely confide in the candour of the committee; to that standard I chearfully submit.
21The Federalist No. 6, [14 November 1787] (Hamilton Papers)
...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 States themselves, and from domestic factions and convulsions. These have been already in some instances slightly anticipated, but they...
22Enclosure: France and America, [2 October 1800] (Hamilton Papers)
...promise of compensation could at present have been expected from France, with the best intentions on our part. The state of her finances does not permit more. The enjoyment of the boon must have been in future. In all probability, by patience and perseverance a more convenient opportunity will occur for a favorable settlement of the matter, and early enough to meet the resources of France...
23Draft of George Washington’s Seventh Annual Address to Congress, [28 November–7 December 1795] (Hamilton Papers)
present, the situa⟨tion⟩ of our public affairs has afforded just cause for mutual congratulation and for inviting you to join with me in profound gratitude to the Author of all Good for the numerous and signal...House of Representatives, You are all apprised, that a Treaty of Amity Commerce and Navigation has been negotiated with Great Britain, and that the Senate by the voice of two thirds...
24An Address to the People of the State of New-York on the Subject of the Constitution, Agreed Upon at Philadelphia, the … (Jay Papers)
When the King of Great-Britain, misguided by men who did not merit his confidence, asserted the unjust claim of binding us in all cases whatsoever, and prepared to obtain our submission by force, the object which engrossed our attention, however important, was nevertheless plain and simple. “What shall we do?” was the question—the people answered, let us... ...essential of human means, and...
25Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on Early Career (the so-called “Autobiography”), [6 January–29 July 1821], with editorial note … (Jefferson Papers)
; little being then known beyond that and indeed, during the regal government, nothing liberal could expect success. our minds were circumscribed within narrow limits by an habitual belief that it was our duty to be subordinate to the mother country in all matters of government, to direct all our labors in subservience to her interests, ...a bigotted intolerance for all religions but hers. the...
26Notes of Proceedings in the Continental Congress, 7 June–1 August 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
The text of the Notes of Proceedings (hereafter referred to as Notes) as here presented was inserted by Jefferson in the manuscript of his Autobiography; all previous editors of Jefferson’s papers have printed it with the Autobiography at the place where Jefferson inserted it (..., or rather suspended, 29 July 1821, is a MS of 90 leaves, all versos being blank save three; however, Jefferson...
27XIII. Fair Copy, First Annual Message, [by 27 November 1801] (Jefferson Papers)
comforts. the assurances indeed of friendly disposition recieved from all the powers, with whom we have principal relations, had inspired a confidence that our peace with them would not have been disturbed. but a cessation of the irregularities which had afflicted the commerce of neutral nations, & of......to remain in peace; but with orders to protect our commerce against the threatened attack...
28II. First Annual Message to Congress, 8 December 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
those arts which tend to increase our comforts. the assurances indeed of friendly disposition recieved from all the powers, with whom we have principal relations, had inspired a confidence that our peace with them would not have been disturbed. but a cessation of the...orders to protect our commerce against the threatened attack. the measure was seasonable and salutary. the Bey had already...
29From Thomas Jefferson to William Drayton, 30 July 1787 (Jefferson Papers)
...them requiring water, and three growing on highlands. The rice of Carolina is said to have come from Madagascar, and DePoivre tells us it is the white rice which is cultivated there. This favors the probability of it’s being of a different species originally from that of Piedmont, and time, culture and climate may have made it still more different. Under this idea I thought it would be well...
30To Thomas Jefferson from Lewis Littlepage, 26 December 1791 (Jefferson Papers)
...July last, and thank you for the trouble you were kind enough to take to inform yourself of, and let me know, the fate of my letter to the President:—I should not have written to him at all, had I known at the time that you had accepted the American Ministry....perhaps Poles, into Livonia, and White Russia, and above all of some subsequent perfidy in the King of Sweden; she still held a...
31An Examination of the British Doctrine, Which Subjects to Capture a Neutral Trade, Not Open in Time of Peace, [ante–8 … (Madison Papers)
...pamphlet received mixed reactions. Although John Quincy Adams said that he was “upon the whole, much pleased” with it, and Benjamin Rush informed JM that the work was “spoken of in all the Circles in our city with the highest praise and admiration,” Senator William Plumer stated that he had “never read a book that fatigued me more than this pamphlet has done,” and John Randolph declared on...
32Detatched Memoranda, ca. 31 January 1820 (Madison Papers)
...the States were seeking by their respective regulations, to enlarge as much as possible their share of the general commerce, the Dr. alluding to their jealousies and competitions remarked that it would be best for all of them to let the trade be free, in which case it would level itself, and leave to each its proper share. These contests he said, put him in mind of what had once......human...
33Political Observations, 20 April 1795 (Madison Papers)
...or can even justify itself as a productive source of Revenue? Whether again the bank was not established without authority from the constitution? Whether it did not throw unnecessary and unreasonable advantages into the hands of men; previously enriched beyond reason or necessity?...at first apprehended. From that moment all ideas of conciliation and concession vanished. She...
34The Federalist Number 43, [23 January] 1788 (Madison Papers)
2. “To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of congress, become the seat of the government of the United States; and to exercise like authority... ...all places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the states, in which the same shall be, for the erection of...
35From James Madison to James Monroe, 20 May 1807 (Madison Papers)
...and cogent considerations which forbid the practice of its cruizers in visiting and impressing the crews of our vessels, covered
by an independant flag, and guarded by the laws of the high seas, which ought to be sacred with all nations...., their liberty, their lives, every thing in a word that is dearest to the human heart, to the capricious or interested sentences which may be...
36General Defense of the Constitution, [6 June] 1788 (Madison Papers)
...assertions, will condescend to prove and demonstrate, by a fair and regular discussion. It gives me pain to hear gentlemen continually distorting the natural construction of language; for, it is sufficient if any human production can stand a fair discussion. Before I proceed to make some additions to the reasons which have been adduced by my honorable friend over the way, I must take the...
37Enclosure: Extracts by “X.Y.Z Cosmopolite” (Christian Schultz) from his Defense of Theism, [ca. 30 December 1821] (Jefferson Papers)
the religion of heaven—all others the offspring of earth. In which, all the miracles related by that historian, are . all of which may be by the meanest capacity, without the aid of kings, priests, altars or temples. Every child may inscribe this essence of all religion, on the nail of his little finger. ...in all the rigid maxims of piety and religion: and at fourteen years of age... ...all...
38To George Washington from Unknown Author, 15 July 1784 (Washington Papers)
[The author, who was a planter, probably in Virginia but possibly in Maryland, and a man with some knowledge of the classics, rings all the changes on the declension of the American Revolution from its early days of glory to its present sorry state in 1784. His jeremiad on the corruption of American society and its institutions repeats things often said before and......People of all Ranks...
39From George Washington to John Augustine Washington, 18 July 1755 (Washington Papers)
I have not, as yet, composed the latter. But by the all powerful dispensatns of protected beyond all human
40From George Washington to Samuel Huntington, 20 August 1780 (Washington Papers)
for from all the accounts we receive from thence the affairs of the Southern States seem to be so exceedingly disordered, and their resources so much exhausted, that whatever should be undertaken there, must chiefly depend on the means carried from......either not be undertaken at all, or being undertaken, may fail—I am perswaded Congress are not inattentive to the present State of the Army,...