liberties forever? Does either the situation
or circumstances of things warrant it?

CATO.

THE LETTERS OF CAESAR, WRITTEN BY ALEXANDER HAMILTON.

Printed In
The Daily Advertiser,
October, 1787.

Note.

These letters, from what has already been quoted on page 245, were
evidently written by Alexander Hamilton. He had just finished a newspaper
controversy of a very acrimonious character with George Clinton, which
probably caused these letters to be an attack on the writer of _Cato_,
rather than a defense of the new government. They are further evidence of
the great want of political tact and sympathy with the masses, of which
Hamilton gave so many specimens in his short life, and which alone
prevented his political success. That he himself realized this mistake is
shown by his prompt abandonment of _Caesar_ and his beginning again anew in
_The Federalist_; the latter being a singular and interesting contrast in
both tone and argument to these earlier writings, which, it should be also
considered, were undoubtedly written in great haste.

Caesar, I.

The Daily Advertiser, (Number 812)

MONDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1787.

The citizens of the State of New York have received yesterday, from _Cato_
(an ally of _Pompey_, no doubt), an introductory discourse on the
appearance of the new system for the government of the United States:
this, we are told, will be followed by such observations, on the
constitution proposed to the union, "as will promote our welfare and be
justified by reason and truth." There is, in this preparatory lecture,
little that is necessary to be dwelt on just now; and if Cato had not
possessed his future investigations in such terms as wore a _questionable
shape_, they should have passed unheeded.

Cato tells us that he will not _directly engage as an advocate_ for this
new form of government, or as an _opponent_. Here Cato, without any
dispute, acts prudently. It will be wise in him to rest awhile; since he
has given a _preface_, which, with small address, can easily be made to
work on either side. When the sentiments of the confederate states come to
be generally known it will be time enough to proceed. Cato will then
_start fair_. A little caution, however, he thinks necessary to be given
the meantime. "Do not," says this prudent censor, in addressing the
citizens, "because you will admit that _something_ must be done, adopt
_anything_." What, in the name of common sense,