ll doubtless reduce them to cases of such magnitude and
importance as cannot safely be trusted to the final decision of the courts
of particular states; and the constitution does not make it necessary that
any inferior tribunals should be instituted, but it may be done if found
necessary; 'tis probable that the courts of particular states will be
authorized by the laws of the union, as has been heretofore done in cases
of piracy, &c., and the Supreme Court may have a circuit to make trials as
convenient, and as little expensive as possible to the parties; nor is
there anything in the constitution to deprive them of trial by jury in
cases where that mode of trial has been heretofore used. All cases in the
courts of common law between citizens of the same state, except those
claiming lands under grants of different states, must be finally decided
by courts of the state to which they belong, so that it is not probable
that more than one citizen to a thousand will ever have a cause that can
come before a federal court.

Every department and officer of the federal government will be subject to
the regulation and control of the laws, and the people will have all
possible securities against oppression. Upon the whole, the constitution
appears to be well framed to secure the rights and liberties of the people
and for preserving the governments of the individual states, and if well
administered, to restore and secure public and private credit, and to give
respectability to the states both abroad and at home. Perhaps a more
perfect one could not be formed on mere speculation; and if upon
experience it shall be found deficient, it provides an easy and peaceable
mode to make amendments. Is it not much better to adopt it than to
continue in present circumstances? Its being agreed to by all the states
present in Convention, is a circumstance in its favour, so far as any
respect is due to their opinions.

A CITIZEN OF NEW HAVEN.

THE LETTERS OF CATO, WRITTEN BY GEORGE CLINTON.

Printed In
The New York Journal,
September-January, 1787-8.

Note.

These letters were commonly ascribed to the pen of George Clinton in the
press of the day, and that this ascription was right seems to be proved by
the following letter. Though signed by Hamilton, it is in the handwriting
of John Lamb, a leading anti-federalist of New York, and is in the George
Clinton MSS. in the New York State Library. It thus seems apparent that it