The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-13
LETTER FROM ALEXANDER HAMILTON


The New York Evening Gazette announces, as in
preparation, "Memoirs of the Washington and Ad
ans Administration, and of their Cabinets from the
papers of Oliver Wolcott Secretary of the Treasury
edited by George Gibbs.'' The work will imbody
many hitherto unpublished letters of Washington
John Adams, Hamilton, Fisher Ames, George Ca
bot, Timothy Pickering, the Wocotts, Rufus King
Oliver Ellsworth, John Trumbull, and other emf
nent statesmen of the federal party, and will, Of
course, be deeply interesting. The Gazette has
been enabled to anticipate its appearance in the pub
llcatlon of the following admirable letter from Alex
ander Hamilton Oliver Wocoit, setting forth the
reasons why the federal members of Congress
should not on the occasion of tie between Jetfcr-
son and Burr, elect Burr President over Jefferson
This letter, which is Of undiminished value, as set
ting forth the true policy of party placed in such
| dilemma us were the federasts OF 10000, and
the great mistake of supposing defeat more disas
trous thaa a bad success, is as follows:
DECEMBER II, 1900.
"Your last letter, my dear sir, has given me great
pain; not only because it informed me that the opn-
ion in favor of Mr.. Burr was increasing among the
federalisIs, hut because It was also told me that
Mr.. -- was one of his parsans. have let
ter from this gentleman, in which he expresses de-
cidedly his preference of MIR. Jefferson. hope you
have been mistaken, and that it is not possible for
him TO have been guilty offs great duplicy.
"There is no circumstance which has occurred in
the of political affairs that has given me
much pain the idea that Mr. Burr might be
elected to the presidency by the means of federasts
am of opinion that this party has hitherto solid
claims of merit with the public; and 81 long as it
does nothing to forfeit It's title 10 confidence shall
continue to hope that our msfortunes are tempnra-
ry and that the party will ere long emerge from its
depression. But If il shall act a foolish or unwor-
thy partit any capital instance, shall then des
pa'r
'sSnch without doubt, will be the part il will act
if shall seriously attempt support MIR. Burr in
IN Mr. left { I fall
is not improbable, it will have rvetted the animosity
of that person-wlil have destroyed weakened the
motives to moderation which he must at present
feel-and IT will expose them to the disgrace of
defeat in attempt to elevate to the first place in
the government one Of the worst men in the COM
munity.
"Ifit succeeds, it will have done nothing more
nor less than place in that station a man who will
possess the holiness and daring necessary to give
| success to the Jacobn system, instead of one who,
for want Of that quality, will be less fitted to pro-
mote it.
.'Let it not be imagined that Mr.. Burr can be won
to the federal views. 1t is vain hope. Stronger
ties and stronger inducements than they can offer
will impel him in different direction. His ambi-
ton will not be content with those objects which
vrtuous men of either party will aot to it, and his
situation and his habits, will oblige him to have
course to corrupt expediens, from which he will be
restrained by no moral scruples. To accomplish
his ends he must lean upon unprncipled men, and
will continue to adhere to the myrmdons who have
hitherto surrounded him. To these he will no
doubt, add able rogues of the federal pary but he
will employ the rogues of all parties to override the
good men Of all parties, and to prosecute projects
which wise men Of every description will disap-
prove.
"These things are to be inferred with moral GER
tanty from the character of the man. Every step
in his proves that he has formed himself up
on the model Of Catilne; and he is too cold-blood.
ed, and too determined consplrator, ever to change
his plan.
"f Jefferson is President the whole responsibility
Of bad measures will rest with the anti-federalists
If Burr is made by the federalis,s the whole re-
sponsibility will rest with them. The other party
will say to the people, we intended him only for
Vice President; here he might have done very well
and been at least harmless. But the federalists to
dsappoint us and majority of you, took advan-
first place. He is, therefore, their President, and
they must for all the evils of his bad conduct
and the people will believe them.
"Will any reasonable calculation the part Of the
federasts uphold the policy of assuming so great
responsibility in the support of so unpromsing
character, The negative is so manifest, that, had
not been assured of the contrary, | should have
thought it impossible that assent to it would have
been attended with moments hesitation.
"Alas! when will men consult their reason rather
than their passions' Whatever they may imagine,
the desire of Notifying the adverse party must be the
chief spring of their disposition prefer Mr.. Burr
This disposition reminds me of the conduct of the
Dutch moneycd men, who, from hatred to the old
arstocracy, favored the admission of the French in
to Holland to overturn everything.
tAieu to the federal Troy, if they once introduce
this Grecian horse into their citadel.
Trust me, very dear friend, you cannot render
greater service to your country than resist this
project Far better will it be TO endeavor to obtain
from Jefferson assurances on some cardinal points
l. The preservation of the actual fiscal system, Q
Adherence to the neutral plan. 3. The preserva-
ton and gradual increase Of the navy 4. The con-
tnuance Of our friends in the Offices they fll, except
in the great departments in which he ought to be
left free Adieu, my dear sir.
"Yours, ever,
10. WoLcorr, esq"