Ratification: One Nation Under a Groove

By June of 1788, ten States have ratified the proposed Constitution. While the technicalities of Article IX have been met, most people understand that the reality is that for the Union to survive, it must be unanimous. Or at least everybody except Rhode Island, which we will deal with separately.  New York is next up on the clock, and already the sniping between the Federalists, led by Alexander Hamilton, and the longtime Governor of the State, George Clinton (a Revolutionary War General and close friend of Washington's) has become both intense and deeply personal. Hamilton, unlike the musical, is deeply connected to the wealthy landowning elites, while Clinton is much more of an introspective "man of the people." His policies have endeared him to the Middle Class, while the wealthy landowners (Hamilton) have been cut out of New York's spoils.   Of all of the States, New York is virtually the only one that has - because of Clinton's economic policies - emerged from the depression of 1780 in good shape. In fact, the State Treasury has over $3 Million (in 1788 dollars) in surplus. Clinton is wisely using this to improve New York's economy and - of course - keep the votes of the middle and lower classes. Hamilton, who married the daughter of the man Clinton upset in the 1777 Gubernatorial election, opposes the policies that keep New York's money in New York and not allowing Congress to take over the impost (tax) money that New York is collecting. In fact, at one point New York agrees, but petulant Rhode Island torpedoes the deal by refusing to agree. Of course.   More than anyone, it is these two men, Hamilton, and Clinton, who will face off over the Constitution. Clinton will become the very embodiment - in fact, he is the man for whom the term is coined - of Anti-Federalist. He is not an anti-nationalist. He believes strongly in the Union and in liberty. But he opposes ratification. Hamilton is co-writing the Federalist Papers.  When everything is said and done, One of them will become a two time Vice-President. The other will become a controversial figure and the centerpiece of rewritten history...