In 1782 he was elected a representative in congress, from New-York, and occupied a very high rank in that body. Some of the most important business, ever transacted in the congress of the confederation, came under consideration while he was a member. It has been generally reputed, and the journals of the house abundantly prove, that he was the author of some, and an auxiliary in many, of the very important measures theft adopted. Ho was perhaps uni formly a member, and several times chairman, of the com mittees, to whom was confided the laborious duties of prior investigation, and reporting on such subjects as were decm cd most vitally interesting to the nation. Those reports, nototiously prepared by himself, are full of eloquence, energy, and wisdom.
The violence, meditated against the property and persons of those who remained in the city of New-York during the late war, called forth his generous exertions in their behalf. By his influence, and the aid of governor George Clinton, the faithless and resentful schemes against them were defeated. On this occasion he published two celebrated pamphlets, under the signature of Phocion, addressed to the consider ate citizens of New-York. Those excellent productions had the happy effect of calming the vindictive passions of the people, informing their minds as to the obligations arising out of the conclusion of the treaty of peace, and finally convincing them, that moderation and justice were not only most honourable, but most consistent with sound policy.
In the year 1786, colonel Hamilton was a member of the legislature of During the session, a collision, on the subject of territorial rights, which had subsisted be tween the people of that state, and the inhabitants of the territory, now state of Vermont, was quieted. It had be come extremely violent, and menacing to the peace of that section of the United States. The happy result has been universally attributed to the wisdom of his measures, the in fluence of his character, the moderation of his temper, and the effect of his eloquence. Out of the pacification arose the independence of the state of Vermont, which was ad mitted into the union in 1791.
Before the expiration of the session of the legislature, in which his great talents had been so happily exerted, he was elected one of the representatives of the state of New-York, in the convention at Philadelphia, whose deliberations re sulted in the formation of the federal constitution, which was afterwards adopted by the several states. No more weighty and highly responsible duties were ever conferred upon any assemblage of men, than those committed to the wisdom and prudence of the convention. They were none other than the preservation of the independence of the United States, after it had been asserted by the sword, and at the price of much valuable blood ; and an equal distribu tion, among the people, of the rights, burthens, and bene fits, which spring from government. The articles of con federation, formed in the season of war, and under the pres sure of common danger, were found inadequate to the ef ficient government of the same country and people, in the time of peace and commercial elite' prize. A radical re form became necessary.
The several confederation, at various periods, among the American colonies, for the put poses of defence, had left an impression on the public mind, of the pi acticability of permanent union. From the want of power, in that which carried the country safely and successfully though the war, to do any thing having the authority of law, the affairs of the United States became exceedingly perplexed. Com mercial jealousies were fast increasing among the several states, and countervailing measures were resotted to, net calculated to maintain the good understanding, which it was hoped would continue to exist among states that harmo nized in the resistapec of a common enemy. The suffer ings of the inhabitants were increased by obstructions in their trade, from which they had been free while colonists. That intercourse with the \Vest Indies, from which they had visually derived great supplies of gold and silver, was for bidden them, in their novel capacity of independent states.
Their fisheries received a severe check, in their exclusion from several ports in which they had been accustomed to find ready sale of the fruits of their industry. These evils were still further aggravated by the stoppage of the boun ty on whale oil, to which, when British subjects, they were entitled. To add to their misfortunes, they could no long er navigate the Mediterranean in safety ; a In ivilegc which they had enjoyed while members of the Hi itish empire. Unable to defend themselves against the barbarian corsairs, they were obliged either to quit the sea, or insure their trade at a ruinous premium. In short, the channels of com merce, which had been familiar to them, in their new cha racter of citizens of the United States were completely changed. For the sums needed in the public service, the congress of the confederation continued to send forth annual requisitions ; but, as they rested merely upon the recom mendation of that body, it was optional with the state legis latures to grant them. They were consequently disregard ed by some of the states, and but partially complied with by others. From this failure of public justice, a deluge of evils was likely to flow. It was moreover swelled by an
unfavourable balance of trade. The ravages of armies, and the interruption of a free communication between America and Europe, during the war, had multiplied the wants of the former. An inundation of European manufactures was, therefore, one of the early incidents which followed the es tablishment of peace. They were purchased by the Ame ricans far beyond their means of payment. Adventurers, grasping at the profits of trade with the new formed states, exported to America goods to a great amount ; exceeding si hat either prudence or policy could justify. The Ame ricans found themselves involved in debt, to the discharge of which their resources were unequal. In many instances these debts were conti acted on credit, by persons to whom the United States were indebted. Presuming on the jus tice and ability of their country, they had involved them selves in private engagements, trusting, for the means of discharging their obligations, on payment from the public. To relieve their constituents from the pressure of multi plied and accumulating evils, congress felt its inadequacy ; and called on the states to enlarge their powers, and particu larly to entrust them with the regulation of commerce ; at least for a limited number of years. Some states complied with the call ; but others fettered their grants with such conditions as prevented the formation of an uniform sys tem. From the combined operation of these causes and effects, trade languished ; credit expired ; gold and silver vanished ; and real property depreciated to an alarming extent. Instead an artificial medium of circu lation by funding their debts, several of the states, to alle viate the distresses arising from the want of money, adopt ed the fallacious expedient of emitting paper, to supply the place olgold and silver ; but the remedy increased the dis ease. Owing to the imbecility of the existing government, the public debt could not be funded upon any basis that would command confidence ; and the advantage of substi tuting it for metal, as the basis of a national monied insti tution, was lost. The people began to feel disappointment in ,their expectations of prosperity and happiness as the fruits of independence. The calamities of war were follow ed by another class of evils, different in their origin, but not less oppressive in their consequences. The citizens were now peculiarly liable to be led into fatal error They were sensible of pressure, and, not knowing precisely from what sources it originated, or how to remedy it, became restless, and ready to adopt any desperate measures recommended by ambitious and turbulent leaders. In this irritable state, an insurrection actually commenced with a number of the citizens of Massachusetts, who, sore with their enlarged po• tion of public calamity, were induced, by seditious dema gogues, to make open resistance to the operations of their own free government. The votaries of liberty and inde pendence began to be less sanguine in their hopes from the revolution ; and to fear that they had reared a visionary fabric of government on fallacious ideas of public virtue. At length, however, recurrence was had to the good sense of the people for the rectification of fundamental disorders. The congress adopted a resolution to the following effect : " That in their opinion it was expedient, that, o nthe second :Monday of May, 1787, a convention of delegates, who shall have been appointed by the several states, be held at Phila delphia, for the sole and express purpose of revising the ar ticles of confederation, and reporting to congress, and the several legislatures, such alterations and provisions therein, as shall, when agreed to in congress, and confirmed by the states, render the federal constitution adequate to the exi gencies of government, and the preservation of the union." The states accordingly appointed delegates, who assembled in convention, at Philadelphia, at the time appointed. Ge neral Washington was nominated president, on the organi zation of that illustrious and patriotic body. After delibe rating nearly four months with closed doors, the conven tion agreed upon a plan of government, which was report ed to congress, " as the result of a spirit of amity, and of that mutual deference and concession, which the peculiari ty of their political situation rendered indispensable ;" and that, in their opinion, " it should be submitted to a conven tion of delegates chosen in each state, by the people there of, under the recommendation of their legislature, for their assent and ratification." The plan of government, reported by the convention, was the present constitution of the Unit ed States ; which was adopted by the people of the several states in conventions assembled. A glance at the political condition of the country, and an accurate estimation of the dispositions of its inhabitants, at the very solemn and inter esting juncture when the convention met at Philadelphia, will sufficiently attest the fortitude of its members, in un dertaking, at such a period, the formation of a government to be spontaneously adopted, and yet to he sufficiently ener getic to enforce obedience to its authority. Great was their responsibility ; and heavy was the load of anxiety which must have hung on their minds, lest their efforts should at last be lost in failure.