Philadelphia, December 18, 1779.
My Dear Hamilton:
On my arrival in town, I was informed by the President, that Congress
had suspended the business of appointing a secretary to their minister
plenipotentiary at Versailles, until my return, in hopes that I might
still be prevailed upon to accept the office. I replied, that I thought
my letter upon the subject sufficiently explicit; and assured him of
my sincere desire to be excused from serving in that capacity at the
present juncture of our affairs.
He urged the unanimity of the choice with respect to me; the difficulty
of uniting the suffrages of all parties, in case of a new nomination;
and the advantages of this union. Several delegates of Congress
declared to me the embarrassment of Congress since I had declined. One,
in particular, suggested to me his apprehension of interest being made
for a late delegate of New-York, who is candidate for the office, and
to whom the world, in general, allows greater credit for his abilities
than his integrity; and said, “he was determined to oppose him with
all his influence.” When I quitted town the sixteenth, these matters
crowded into my mind. I fell into a train of serious reflections and
self-examination; endeavored to investigate whether I had acted
consonantly to the καλον και αγαθον, and fulfilled the duties of a good
citizen in this transaction. In fine, I agitated the grand question,
Whether a citizen has a right to decline any office to which his
countrymen appoint him; upon what that right is founded; and whether it
existed in my case.
After undergoing the severest conflict that ever I experienced;
sometimes reproaching, sometimes justifying myself; pursuing my
journey, or turning retrograde; as the arguments on the one side or the
other appeared to prevail; I determined that I had been deficient in
the duties of a good citizen. I returned to Philadelphia; communicated
my sentiments to the President and two other members; and declared
to them, that I thought it incumbent on me, in the first place, to
recommend a person equally qualified in point of integrity, and much
better in point of ability. That if, unhappily, they could not agree
upon Colonel Hamilton, and that I was absolutely necessary to exclude
a dangerous person, or to prevent pernicious delays, I should think it
my duty to obey the orders of Congress. The persons now in nomination,
are, Colonel Hamilton, Mr. Lovell, Mr. G. Morris, Major Stewart. I am
sorry that you are not better known to Congress. Great stress is laid
upon the probity and patriotism of the person to be employed in this
commission. I have given my testimony of you in this, and the other
equally essential points.
I am sorry to inform you, that the North Carolina brigade had not
quitted Elk the sixteenth; having been detained by the ice.
I am sorry to write you, just as I am on the wing. Be so good as to
thank Tilghman for his letter. Inform him, from Mr. Mitchell, that his
habiliments are making.
My love as usual. Adieu.
John Laurens.
Colonel Hamilton.