THE LETTERS

OF

CATO,

WRITTEN BY

GEORGE CLINTON,

AND PRINTED IN

THE NEW YORK JOURNAL,

SEPTEMBER-JANUARY,

1787-8.

NOTE.

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 antifederalist 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:

Dear Sir:

OCTOBER 18, 1787.

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.

CATO, I.

THE NEW YORK JOURNAL.

(Number 2134)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1787.

For the New York Journal.

TO THE CITIZENS OF THE State of New YORK:

The Convention, who sat at Philadelphia, have at last delivered to Congress that system of general government, which they have declared best calculated to promote your safety and happiness as citizens of the United States. This system, though not handed to you formally by the authority of government, has obtained an introduction through divers channels; and the minds of you all, to whose observation it has come, have no doubt been contemplating it; and alternate joy, hope, or fear have preponderated, as it conformed to, or differed from, your various ideas of just gov

ernment.

Government, to an American, is the science of his political safety; this then is a moment to you the most important-and that in various points-to your reputation as members of a great nation to your immediate safety, and to that of your posterity. In your private concerns and affairs of life you deliberate with caution, and act with prudence; your public concerns require a caution and prudence, in a ratio suited to the difference and dignity of the subject. The disposal of your reputation, and of your lives and property, is more momentous than a contract for a farm, or the sale of a bale of goods; in the former, if you are negligent or inactive, the ambitious and despotic will entrap you in their toils, and bind you with the cord of power from which you, and