Richard [Nicholls] Harison / Harrison - Onondaga and Oswego ...

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DEAR SIR:
RICH. HARISON TO R. KING.
NEW YORK, July 24, 1815.
The case of Mettus Tuffetius, alluded to by Mr. Mason, is in the 27 & 28th Chapters of the first Book of Livy. It is a strong case, and
should be considered in connection with the Treaty stated in the 24th Chapter of the same Book. This Treaty proceeded the
celebrated Battle between the Horatii and the Curiatii & contained the following Terms. "Cujus Populi Cives eo Certamine vicissent,
is alteri Populo cum bona Pace imperitaret." The Inhabitants of Alba, therefore after the Victory of the Horatii, became Subjects of
Rome: and the punishment of Mettus appears to be founded upon that basis—not upon the Principle of public Law, as between
distinct Nations,—Mettus was considered & punished as a traitor & Livy himself treats of the Subject in that Light. How far the Case
may be applicable to the existing Case of the great Criminal, is certainly a nice question. He once owed Allegiance to the French
Monarchy—He had renounced all pretensions to the Crown, & he entered France with the avowed purpose of dethroning the
Monarch—why then is he not a traitor & liable to ultimate punishment?
Believe me, Dr. Sir, with the most sincere Respect your obed Servt. &c.
RICH. HARISON.
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“The papers of Alexander Hamilton, Volume 10,” by Alexander Hamilton, Harold Coffin Syrett, page 416.
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New York 16th May 1794
Dr Sir,
. . . Our Friend Lawrance 1 appears very much pleased with his new Appointment. The Chancellor’s would have given great
Satisfaction to many of his Well Wishers: and it would not be disagreeable if the Appointment should be transferred to some
Character equally meritorious 2 . . .
Hon. Alexr. Hamilton Esqr.
1. On 7 May 1794 George Washington signed “a Commission for John Laurance as judge of the District of New York.”
Rich: Harison
2. Harison is referring to the refusal of Robert R Livingston, Chancellor of New York, to accept the appointment as United States
Minister to France to succeed Gouvernor Morris (see “List on Names From Whence to Take a Minister for France,” May 19, 1794)..
On April 27 Secretary of State Edmund Randolph wrote to the President that he had “conversed with several Gentlemen, who are
of the same politics” as Livingston and that “upon the whole, they think that his appointment would be satisfactory.”
On April 29 the President offered the post to Livingston.
On May 10 and 15 1794, Livingston replied, declining the position.
In a letter to James Monroe, dated May 16 1794, Livingston stated that he had refused the offer partly because of the effect his
resignation as chancellor might have on politics of New York, for he believed that the chancellorship would be “filled by a person of a
very different political character. Besides that differing so much as I do from the . . . Administration I am satisfied that I should either
be compelled to violate my own Principles by yielding to theirs or risk my reputation by incurring their resentment.
Note: As may be seen by the below brief biographical sketch of Robert R Livingston, the wisdom and timing of his initial declination
to serve as United States Minister to France is quite remarkable, considering what he actually did upon acceptance of this position
in 1801. Note also that he served as Grand Master of Masons from 1784 to 1801.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Livingston_(1746%E2%80%931813)
Robert R Livingston was appointed Recorder of New York City * in October 1773, but soon
identified himself with the anti-colonial Whig Party and was replaced a few months later with
John Watts, Jr. He was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of
Independence, although he was recalled by his state before he could sign the final version of
the document.
* The office of Recorder of New York City was held by Francis Harison [1725-1735] and his
grandson Richard Harison [15 Feb 1798 to 25 Aug 1801].
From 1777 to 1801, he was the first Chancellor of New York, then the highest judicial officer in
the State. He became universally known as "The Chancellor", retaining the title as a nickname
even after he left the office. Livingston was also U. S. Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1781 to
1783, under the Articles of Confederation. In 1789, as Chancellor of New York, he administered
the presidential oath of office to George Washington at Federal Hall in New York City, then the
capital of the United States.
In 1789, Livingston joined the Jeffersonian Republicans (later known as the Democratic-
Republicans), in opposition to his former colleagues John Jay and Alexander Hamilton who
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