but representative union withdevices that would give weight to class and property. Apart from this, Hamilton was largely absent fromthe convention, having left on June 30, 1787. Washington wrote him saying, "I am sorry you went away.I wish you were back." At the close of the Convention, Hamilton returned to sign the Constitution for hisstate. Hamilton immediately used his talents to secure the adoption of the Constitution. Hamilton was the first to publish a letter in the Constitution's defense. This article was published in the New York Independent Journal on Oct. 2, 1787, only two weeks after the Constitution was signed. He was one of three authors of The Federalist. This work remains a classic commentary on American constitutional law and the principals of government. Its inception and approximately three-quarters of the work are attributable to Hamilton (the rest belonging to John Jay and James Madison). Hamilton also won the New York ratification convention vote for the Constitution against great odds in July 17-July 26, 1788. Chancellor James Kent stated that "all of the documentary proof and the current observation of the time lead us to the conclusion that he surpassed all of his contemporaries in his exertionsto create, recommend, adopt and defend the Constitution of the United States." During Washington's presidency, Hamilton became the first secretary of the Treasury. In this position he secured the traditional strength of American finance. He is chiefly responsible for establishing the credit of the United States, both at home and abroad. His Report on the Public Credit, Jan. 14, 1790, constituted a watershed in American history. It marked an end of...
