they will hold out, will be to offer them ourselves.  An essential part of the plan is, to give them their freedom with their swords.  This will secure their fidelity, animate their courage, and, I believe, will have a good influence upon those who remain, by opening a door to their emancipation.

     “This circumstance, I confess, has no small weight in inducing me to
     wish the success of the project; for the dictates of humanity and true
     policy equally interest me in favor of this unfortunate class of men.

“While I am on the subject of Southern affairs, you will excuse the liberty I take in saying, that I do not think measures sufficiently vigorous are pursuing for our defence in that quarter.  Except the few regular troops of South Carolina, we seem to be relying wholly on the militia of that and two neighboring States.  These will soon grow impatient of service and leave our affairs in a miserable situation.  No considerable force can be uniformly kept up by militia, to say nothing of the many obvious and well-known inconveniences that attend this kind of troops.  I would beg leave to suggest, sir, that no time ought to be lost in making a draught of militia to serve a twelve-month, from the States of North and South Carolina and Virginia.  But South Carolina, being very weak in her population of whites, may be excused from the draught, on condition of furnishing the black battalions.  The two others may furnish about three thousand five hundred men, and be exempted, on that account, from sending any succor to this army.  The States to the northward of Virginia, will be fully able to give competent supplies to the army here; and it will require all the force and exertions of the three States I have mentioned, to withstand the storm which has arisen, and is increasing in the South.

“The troops draughted, must be thrown into battalions, and officered in the best possible manner.  The best supernumerary officers may be made use of as far as they will go.  If arms are wanted for their troops, and no better way of supplying them is to be found, we should endeavor to levy a contribution of arms upon the militia at large.  Extraordinary exigencies demand extraordinary means.  I fear this Southern business will become a very grave one.

     “With the truest respect and esteem, I am, sir, your most obedient
     servant,

     Alexander Hamilton.”

[48] The resolutions of Congress were as follows: 

     “Resolved, That it be recommended to the States of South Carolina
     and Georgia, if they shall think the same expedient, to take measures
     immediately for raising three thousand able-bodied negroes.

     “That the said negroes be formed into separate corps, as battalions,
     according to the arrangements adopted for the main army, to be
     commanded by white commissioned and non-commissioned officers.