New-York, May 19, 1788.
My Dear Sir:
I acknowledge 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 will believe there is no one
for whom I have more inclination than yourself--I mean of the _male_
kind.
Your account of the situation of Virginia was interesting, and the
present appearances, as represented here, justify your conjectures. It
does not, however, appear that the adoption of the constitution can be
considered as out of doubt in that State. Its conduct upon the occasion
will certainly be of critical importance.
In this State, as far as we can judge, the elections have gone wrong.
The event, however, will not certainly be known till the end of the
month. Violence, rather than moderation, is to be looked for from the
opposite party. Obstinacy seems the prevailing trait in the character
of its leader. The language is, that if all the other States adopt,
this is to persist in refusing the constitution. It is reduced to a
certainty, that Clinton has in several conversations declared the
_Union_ unnecessary; though I have the information through channels
which do not permit a public use to be made of it.
We have, notwithstanding this unfavorable complexion of things, two
sources of hope--one, the chance of a ratification by nine States,
before we decide, and the influence of this upon the firmness of the
_followers_; the other, the probability of a change of sentiment in the
people, auspicious to the Constitution.
The current has been for some time running towards it; though the whole
flood of official influence, accelerated by a torrent of falsehood,
early gave the public opinion so violent a direction in a wrong
channel, that it was not possible suddenly to alter its course. This
is a mighty stiff simile; but you know what I mean; and after having
started it, I did not choose to give up the chase.
Adieu. Yours sincerely,
A. Hamilton.
The members of the Convention in this city, by a majority of nine or
ten to one, will be:--John Jay, Robert R. Livingston, Richard Morris,
John Sloss Hobart, James Duane, Isaac Rosevelt, Richard Harrison,
Nicholas Low, Alexander Hamilton.
G. Morris, Esq.