COMMENTARIES, 21 JULY-30 OCTOBER 1787

better acquainted by and by) with his Excellency, to determine whether
what has been asserted of him in the paper of July the 21st, be true or
false.-In like manner with the gentleman, when speaking of the Gov-
ernor, I have not the honor of much personal acquaintance with Col.
Hamilton-scarcely any, but such as his public virtues have furnished
me with; but it must be conceded, that an unanswered attack against a
very influential officer, who sees clearly, and pursues industriously, his
own interest, is strong evidence, that his Excellency was not misrepre-
sented by that gentleman's publication; and whether his design was os-
tensibly, or really to obviate any wrong impressions which this conduct
of the Governor might make on the public mind, must be judged of
in a great measure, by the opinion which the public have formed of
the man. That his Excellency has long been viewed as secretly hostile to
such measures as were conceived absolutely necessary to the support of
a substantial Federal Government cannot be denied-and if the animad-
versions alluded to are true, (and they remain uncontroverted) men
will be disposed to consider him as openly opposed to any change which
the wisdom of the present Convention may recommend-If this should
prove to be the case, the Republican will please to observe, that I sport
no opinions concerning the Governor's motives, and they are the less
necessary since his friend appears so fertile of imagination, that this
deficiency will be easily supplied.
The Republican's whole strength appears to be centered in his third
paragraph, which I acknowledge he has handled in a very ingenious
manner-He tells us, "In order to establish the charge against his Ex-
cellency, the most conclusive evidence ought to have been produced,"
&c.-Here, and elsewhere, pretty clearly, he admits culpability, but
quibbles a good deal about the inexplicity of the testimony, and upon
the whole, rather seems inclined to consider it as a personal and slan-
derous attack, than a noble and patriotic alarm.-Whether upon the
whole, the Republican thinks the charge sufficiently established against
the Governor; or, whether if it was proved beyond all controversy, he
would admit it to be fraught with evil consequences, I cannot tell; but
I may venture to assure him, that his Excellency knows, with more than
tolerable certainty, the author, who publicly accused him of expressing
such sentiments respecting the business and probable issue of the present
Convention, as would, when disseminated throughout the State, have
a powerful and direct tendency to pre-occupy the public mind, in a
manner little calculated to give efficacy to the counsels of that great
patriot band. If therefore he was innocently accused, why not apply an
easy and certain remedy-the occasion to himself was interesting-the
mode was easy-the antagonist every way his equal, save one. The fact,

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