Princeton, July 27, 1783.
Sir:
A few days since I was honored with your Excellency’s letter of the
; and was glad to find your ideas on the subject
corresponded with mine.
As I shall, in a day or two, take leave of Congress, I think it my
duty to give my opinion to the Legislature, on a matter of importance
to the State, which has been long depending, and is still without a
prospect of termination in the train in which it has been placed: I
mean the affair of the Grants. It is hazardous to pass a positive
judgment on what will happen in a body so mutable as that of Congress;
but from all I have seen, I have come to a settled opinion, that no
determination will be taken and executed by them in any other manner,
than in that prescribed by the Confederation. There is always such
a diversity of views and interests; so many compromises to be made
between different States; that, in a question of this nature, the
embarrassments of which have been increased by the steps that have
preceded, and in which the passions of the opposite sides have taken
a warm part, decision must be the result of necessity. While Congress
have a discretion, they will procrastinate: when they are bound by the
Constitution, they must proceed.
It is, therefore, my opinion, that it will be advisable for the
Legislature, when they meet, to review the question; and either to
relinquish their pretensions to the country in dispute, or to instruct
their delegates, if a decision is not had within a limited time, to
declare the submission to Congress revoked, and to institute a claim
according to the principles of the Confederation.
It would be out of my province to discuss which side of the alternative
ought, in policy, to prevail: but I will take the liberty to observe,
that if the last should be preferred, it would be expedient to remove
every motive of opposition from private claims; not only by confirming,
in their full latitude, previous to the trial, the possessions of the
original settlers, but even the grants of the usurped government. It
may happen, that it will be eventually necessary to employ force;
and, in this case, it would be of great importance that neither the
inhabitants of the Grants, nor powerful individuals in other States,
should find their private interest in contradiction to that of the
State. This has already had great influence in counteracting our
wishes; would continue to throw impediments in the way of ulterior
measures; and might at last kindle a serious flame between the States.
I communicated to your Excellency, in a former letter, that I had
declined pressing the application of the Legislature to Congress,
respecting the State troops for garrisoning the frontier posts, because
temporary provision had been made in another way, which would save the
State the immediate expense; and because there was a prospect of some
general provision for the defence of the frontiers on a Continental
establishment, which was to be preferred on every account. A report for
this purpose is now before Congress; but the thinness of representation
has, for some time, retarded, and still retards, its consideration.
The definitive treaty is not yet arrived; but from accounts which,
though not official, appear to deserve credit, it may be daily
expected. A gentleman, known and confided in, has arrived at
Philadelphia, who informs, that he saw a letter from Dr. Franklin to
Mr. Barkeley, telling him that the definitive treaties were signed the
twenty-seventh of May, between all the parties; that New-York was to be
evacuated in six months from the ratification of the preliminaries in
Europe, which will be the twelfth or fifteenth of next month.
As it is not my intention to return to Congress, I take this
opportunity to make my respectful acknowledgments to the Legislature,
for the honorable mark of their confidence conferred upon me, by having
chosen me to represent the State in that body. I shall be happy if my
conduct has been agreeable to them.
With perfect respect,
I have the honor to be,
Your Excellency’s
Most obedient servant,
A. Hamilton.
To his Excellency General Washington.