  These letters were commonly ascribed to the pen of George Clinton in the press of the day, and that this ascription was right seems to be proved by the following letter. Though signed by Hamilton, it is in the handwriting of John Lamb, a leading anti-federalist of New York, and is in the George Clinton MSS. in the New York State Library. It thus seems apparent that it is a copy secured in some way by Hamilton's political opponents: October 18, 1787. Dear Sir: Since my last the chief of the state party has declared his opposition to the government proposed, both in private conversation and in print. That you may judge of the reason and fairness of his views, I send you the two essays, with a reply by CÆsar. On further consideration it was concluded to abandon this personal form, and to take up the principles of the whole subject. These will be sent you as published, and might with advantage be republished in your gazettes. A. Hamilton. This copy, so obtained, seems to have been the basis of the following note in the New York Journal: “A writer in the state of New-York, under the signature of Cesar, came forward against the patriotic Cato and endeavoured to frighten him from starting any objections and threatened that ‘Cato would be followed by Cesar in all his marches;’ but we find that as soon as ever Cato came freely to discuss the merit of the constitution Cesar retreated and disappeared: and since that a publication under the signature of Publius ... has appeared in that state.” Another evidence in confirmation is, that the last of this series was printed on January 3, 1788, and the New York Assembly met on the 9th of the same month, after which Governor Clinton was probably too occupied to write more, though no conclusion was announced in the last essay, and it is probable no such termination was intended. Following these are the two essays of CÆsar mentioned above. |
|
