COLUMBIA COUNTY, 3 APRIL 1788

5. Edward Livingston, a lawyer, was a 1781 graduate of the College of New Jersey
(Princeton), who (along with Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and James Kent) had
studied law with John Lansing, Jr.
Peter Van Schaack to Philip Schuyler
Kinderhook, 3 April 1788 (excerpt)'
I have this Moment only, recd your Letter of 27 Ult.-I am truly
sorry I had not the Opportunity of seeing you in your Way up, as Sub-
jects like those we have corresponded upon require too great a Detail
for a Letter. As to what you heard while in this Town, I must tell you
that in my Opinion it must be set down for Nothing, and so thoroughly
convinced am I that no Dependence is to be put on any Thing that
Man says that I certainly shall never admit him to the least Confidence,
since it co [ul]d answer no other Purpose than to be betrayed. This is
not the Dictate of Passion, but the Result of long, long Experience.-
From what you mention to have passed below, I conclude that the
Business is up in this County unless old Mr L.2 will personally interfere.
A Family that can so disjoin themselves upon so momentous an Occa-
sion, whilst they have shewn they will coalesce on any Point of County
Politics must not be relied upon. Our Opponents forego all these par-
tial Considerations & flock to one Standard.-The Westenhook Peti-
tion has had an admirable Effect to cement this Union.3
We had a Meeting at Claverack, where Colo PR L declared that his
Br. wo[ul]d serve if the County requested it4-! Mr. Ludlow & Mr. Jenkins
will both decline if it is deemed expedient-We are to have a more
numerous Meeting at Spencer Town on Tuesday the 8th. instant. If
such discordant Ingredients still prevail, I shall withdraw my Name from
the Nomination.-People's Minds are wonderfully poison'd, nor do I
believe that there can be any Antidote applied to the Eastward, where
the ill fated Controversies about their Lands make this in their Idea a
Contest pro Aris et Focis.5-The Insinuations against Colo [Jacob]
Ford are base and calculated to stab to the Heart the Cause they os-
tensibly favour.6
What you say of J L's [John Livingston's] Declarations about Mr
[Peter] Silvester would surprize if any Thing co [ul] d surprize Me after
what I have lately been Witness to-I suspect it may induce Mr Sil-
vester to withdraw as his Inclination has long been from all public
Employments. I am however obliged to you for your free Communi-
cations, for by such only can We know the Ground, perhaps in this
Case the Precipice, whereon We stand. Colo Peter sho [ul] d have been
equally explicit to the Atty General7-, which he certainly was not.
Unless old Mr L. will interpose his Authority it is clear to Me that the
Business is at an End.

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