September 28, 1782.
Sir:
I have been honored this week with your letters of the twenty-eighth
of August, and the sixth, twelfth, and seventeenth instant, with their
inclosures.
It gives me the most real pleasure to find that my past communications
have met with your approbation; and I feel a particular satisfaction
in the friendly confidence which your letters manifest. I am persuaded
that substantial reasons have determined your choice in a particular
instance to Doctor Tillotson; and I am flattered by the attention you
have obligingly paid to my recommendations of Colonel Malcolm and Mr.
Lawrence. Those gentlemen are now here. They make you the warmest
acknowledgments for your offer, but decline leaving the State; which,
indeed, is not compatible with the present prospects of either of them.
I am glad to have had an opportunity of perusing your letter to this
State, at which so much exception has been taken; because it has
confirmed me in what I presumed, that there has been much unjustifiable
ill-humor upon the occasion. I will make use of the knowledge I have to
combat misrepresentation.
Yours of the twenty-ninth of July to Congress, is full of principles
and arguments as luminous as they are conclusive. It is to be lamented
that they have not had more weight than we are to infer from the
momentary expedient adopted by the resolutions of the fourth and tenth;
which will, alone, not be satisfactory to the public creditors; and
I fear will only tend to embarrass your present operations, without
answering the end in view. The more I see, the more I find reason for
those who love this country to weep over its blindness.
The committee on the subject of taxation are met. Some have their
plans; and they must protect their own children, however misshapen:
others have none; but are determined to find fault with all. I expect
little, but I shall promote any thing, though imperfect, that will mend
our situation.
With sentiments of
The greatest respect and esteem,
I have the honor to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
A. Hamilton.
P.S. The public creditors in this quarter, have had a meeting, and
appointed a committee to devise measures. The committee will report
petitions to Congress and the Legislature; and an address to the
public creditors in other parts of the State, to appoint persons to
meet in convention, to unite in some common measure. I believe they
will also propose a general convention of all the creditors in the
different States.