COMMENTARIES, 24JUNE 1788

Form in letters to Alexander Hamilton and Rufus King. To Hamilton, he explained that
Virginia Federalists planned "to preface the [Form of] ratification with some plain &
general truths that can not affect the validity of the Act" (ibid., 1665; Rutland, Madison,
XI, 166). To King, Madison wrote that it was intended "to preface the ratification with a
declaration of a few obvious truths which can not affect the validity of the act" (Rutland,
Madison, XI, 167).
24. This item was reprinted in the New York Packet, 4 July, and in ten other newspapers
by 18 July: N.H. (1), Mass. (1), R.I. (2), Conn. (4), Pa. (2).
25. See note 23 (above).
26. RC, Hamilton Papers, DLC. This letter, addressed to Hamilton "At New York
[City]," concerns the expenses incurred by the post rider who carried to Poughkeepsie
Sullivan's 21 June letter to Henry Knox announcing New Hampshire's ratification of the
Constitution. Although Sullivan's letter was addressed to Knox in New York City, it was
first taken to Poughkeepsie.
27. Perhaps Captain John Roche of Concord, N.H., who had been an officer in the
Continental Navy during the Revolution. Roche was a friend of John Langdon, who like
Sullivan, was a member of the New Hampshire Convention. Early in the Revolution,
Langdon had built the Ranger, with the assistance of Roche who had suggested its con-
struction to Congress and who had helped to design it. Roche was expected to command
the vessel, but he was suspended from the naval service because of a complaint lodged
by the Massachusetts Council that he was "a person of doubtful character." The command
of the Ranger was given to John Paul Jones.
28. See Hamilton to Sullivan, 6 June (RCS:N.Y, 1126).
29. The reference is to a 28 June circular letter sent by Edmund Pendleton, the Pres-
ident of the Virginia Convention, to the President of Congress and all of the state ex-
ecutives enclosing an engrossed manuscript that included the Virginia Form of Ratifica-
tion and the amendments recommended by the Virginia Convention. (For the letter, see
RCS:Va., 1563. For the Form of Ratification, see RCS:Va., 1546-47, and for the amend-
ments, see RCS:Va., 1551-56.) It is unlikely, however, that the package included these
items. There would not have been enough time to prepare them all and get them to
Poughkeepsie by 2 July. The Confederation Congress in New York City did not receive
the Pendleton letter and its enclosures until 14 July.
30. Probably a letter that James Madison wrote to Alexander Hamilton on 25 June
(RCS:Va., 1675-76).
31. For the broadside struck off by Nicholas Power of the Poughkeepsie Country Journal,
see Evans 45393. For a photographic facsimile of the broadside, see Mfm:Va. 284. Lossing
quoted part of the broadside in his article.
Ebenezer Hazard to George Washington
General Post Office, New York, 24 June 1788 (excerpt)'
. .. The Attention of Politicians here is wholly engrossed by the new
Constitution. The Information received of late from New Hampshire
leaves little or no Reason to doubt of its Adoption by that State, and
the Gentlemen in Congress from thence consider it as a certain Event.
The Convention of this State is now sitting at Poughkeepsie, and the
Antifederalists have a decided Majority in that Body:-we are told that
their Conduct is more temperate than was at first expected, and some

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