[Private] Alexander Hamilton Esq Secretary of the Treasury Philadelphia [EN] x recd [undecipherable] [undecipherable] 21 (Copy collected) My Dear Sir Richmond Dec. 12. 1794 p 170 I have been favored with yours of the 1^st Instant. All accounts from the scene of this late Insurrection agree that the measures which have been pursued have been as successful in their Issue, as they were wise in their commencement. I have also the satisfaction of finding that our returned Troops pretty generally agree, that a less force than was called forth would have been opposed, and that a much strong could have effected nothing but the establishment of a civil War. This operates as strong evidence against our good democrats who had been used against the Executive for unnecessarily interrupting the quiet of our Citizens, and incurring an useless expence. The propriety of a force being left in the country is also supported by the same authority, to the no small disconcertment of those immaculate guardians of our liberties who were charging upon the president an avidity in seizing an opportunity for an advance to the establishment of a standing Army. In truth our Militia have come home better citizens than they went out; in as much as that they have seen the fallacious spirit of liberty that preferred the Hypocrisy and equa in its own Garb. I have no doubt that their returning, amongst their Neighbours, thus undeceived, will be productive of good consequences. The Virginians were, before this excursion, much better citizens than certain circumstances had led those of them who are disposed to faction, and the ready boldness paid to the late call must have, in some degree, counteracted the Opinion entertained concerning them. You will recollect that after the Insurgency broke out, & before the call was put to the test, I ventured to communicate to you [undecipherable] as belonging to our people different from the contraband politics of our Representatives. I predicted the alacrity with which the people would turn out to support themselves to its dues, and endeavored to account for the real existence of such a contradiction in the conduct of the people, who called out to act for themselves, and when acting, or [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] actions, by their Representatives, the result was confused. The prediction; nor can I attempt to solve the enigma otherwise than I then did. We have vigorous & virtuous Men of abilities — the vicious in bold in their charges upon government & its administration — the virtuous, in ever gradually backward. The people naturally give their suffrages p. 171. to those, who discover the purest [undecipherable] to obtain [undecipherable], take [strikethrough: undecipherable] the greatest confidence in their claims to be trusted. In truth, my Dear [undecipherable], I have fallen out with both, for he, per whom an action [undecipherable] is named, is little less a Friend, than [undecipherable] that stands by and quietly sees the [undecipherable] done. Your observation upon the deplorable presence of a disagreeing Spirit, in the great [undecipherable] above. It has before been felt in [undecipherable], and I expressed too well founded — nor leave you a consolation in the event of our late election here to fill the Senatorial Seats. There is indeed something extremely uncomfortable in all this — Rewards seen [strikethrough: undecipherable] of less [undecipherable] men of [undecipherable] were calculated to leave Charged, even the [undecipherable] of the former [undecipherable] on the [undecipherable] of our political force — more now, [undecipherable] a change of [undecipherable] been expected, [strikethrough: continuing] then [strikethrough: calmly], from a conviction That their Constituents had Received impressions so [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] their [undecipherable] — Speak with the people of Virginia, in parting, & under [undecipherable] far the greater number appear to disapprove of the violent measures espoused espoused by their representatives in both Houses. [undecipherable] — yet all the elections, in the [undecipherable] you note, turn in [undecipherable] the most distinguished for their violence of enmity to the [undecipherable] & its administration. All this I feel & lament exceedingly. I however have a consolation, which I do not think a mistaken one — that the people of [undecipherable]. [undecipherable] would against the wickedness, or follies of their leaders, when ever they are brought near enough to the precipice to see, clearly, their danger. You do not feel more sensibly than I do [undecipherable] more [undecipherable] the critical situation in which we stand; nor are you more thoroughly convinced that the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] there a tendency, calculated on I hope, to a [undecipherable] that cannot be [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] any [undecipherable] the pride of a [undecipherable] American — [undecipherable] their [undecipherable] & [undecipherable]; the transition was to nothing less than from the [undecipherable] [undecipherable] of the [undecipherable], happiest, & [undecipherable] people the [undecipherable] ever [undecipherable] upon, to that of the p 172. most vile, the most wretched of the [undecipherable] that ever disgraced the human character. [undecipherable] the people we dictate our own laws, and say to all the rest of the world what their [undecipherable] shall be their conduct towards us — divide us, and we [undecipherable] become little puppets to be played off one [undecipherable] after, as [undecipherable] be convenient to foreign factions & even foreign individuals — It would seem that the success of Genets projects, should have stamped this lesson deeply on the mind of every American, who was not murdered in his [undecipherable]. I most heartily [undecipherable] upon this [undecipherable] that good men should come forward & set their faces against the ills that awaits us — and trust it will ere long be the case in [undecipherable]. — let our Eastern Brethren, whose good sense & solid republicanism, I daily more & more admire, continue their zeal in supporting the true Interests of the commonwealth — they will prevail — an enthusiastic folly [undecipherable] be of long duration. On the [undecipherable] of your resignation you [undecipherable] — [undecipherable] your final determination, I wish your [undecipherable] may be as successful in the [undecipherable] of his [undecipherable], and that he may have [undecipherable] fortunate in repelling the Attacks of [undecipherable] — the papers have announced a [undecipherable] precaution which I should certainly have taken the liberty to recommend to you. Your [undecipherable] to the House of Representatives in [undecipherable] cause against [undecipherable] Slander, for had you remained till the last day of the [undecipherable], and then resigned Without such a precaution, a retreat from [undecipherable] would have been charged upon you. I anticipate with pleasure your appearance in the character of a Representative, & I beg you to be assured that you [undecipherable] [strikethrough: undecipherable] any. [undecipherable] you may, occupy the public confidence & private [undecipherable] of My Dear Sir your affectionate Fellow Citizen G. Carrington Alex^r. Hamilton Esq.