Hamilton, Alexander (1757-1804) to Pierre Van Cortlandt
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04869 Author/Creator: Hamilton, Alexander (1757-1804) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 February 1789 Pagination: 1 p. : address ; 33.3 x 21.3 cm Order a Copy
Refers to an enclosed letter (not present). Asks New York Lieutenant Governor Pierre Van Cortlandt to support the Federalist strategy to defeat New York Governor George Clinton by withdrawing from gubernatorial race. ". . . withdraw from a competition in which your friends can promise themselves no advantage to you and perceive much disadvantage to the cause they have so earnestly at heart-the removal of the present governor."
Van Cortlandt was lieutenant governor 1778-1795. The enclosed letter referred to was the report of a meeting of New York Federalists who had chosen Van Cortlandt to be the running-mate of gubernatorial candidate Robert Yates. Cortlandt did run with Yates but Clinton still defeated the Federalists.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
D[ea]r. Sir
By the decision of the Committee I transmit you the enclosed letter. I doubt not Sir, you will believe me to be sincere when I assure you that I should be much more happy if circumstances permitted me to be the channel of a very different application. But such is the situation of our state that personal attachments are obliged to yield to public necessity.
As I allow myself to hope Sir that you do me the honor to rank me among the number of those who have a high personal esteem and regard for you, I venture upon the strength of that impression to add my warmest wishes [inserted: to the instances of the Committee] as an individual that you may restore to yield to [inserted: the] exigency of the case and withdraw from a competition in which your [struck: illegible] friends can promise themselves no advantage to you and perceive much disadvantage to the cause they have so carefully at heart- the removal of the present government. With the sincerest respect
and attachment I have the honor to be
D[ea]r. Sir yr. Obed. & huml. ser.
New York Feby. 16, 1789 A. Hamilton
Lt. Governor Cortland
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.