York press, and how well prepared were the opposition (or "Anti-federalists " as their opponents promptly named them), is proved by the fact that, on the very day of its publication, there appeared in the New York Journal, the organ of the "state machine," a letter signed "Cato," sharply and ably attacking the proposed government, written, as was very quickly known, by no less man than Governor George Clinton himself. From that time, till the meeting of the Assembly in January, 1788, gave other occupation, Clinton continued the attack in a series of letters over the same pseudonym.[1] More dangerous still was another series, under the pen-name of "Brutus," begun a little later[2] than those of Cato and far exceeding them in both ability and number, which were notoriously written by Robert Yates, judge of the state supreme court, and one of the delegates who had withdrawn from the federal convention. These two writers were re-enforced by a host of minor scribblers.
Hamilton was too warmly in favor of a strong national government, was too powerfully committed to the proposed constitution, and held too ready a pen, to allow these attacks to go unanswered. But three days after the publication of the first letter of "Cato," a reply to it, under the signature of "Cæsar,"[3] appeared in the papers, keenly personal[4] in character, and virtually warning the "Anti-federalists," that they could "take" the "proffered constitution," or run the risk of seeing a government forced upon them by an army. Furthermore, "Cato" was told that, "in his future marches," he would very probably be followed by "Cæsar."
The want of political tact thus shown, typical indeed of Hamilton through all his life, was eagerly seized upon by " Cato," and in his second letter he cleverly animadverted
