Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-07-26
FROM THE AMERICAN CITIZEN.

General Hamltoa'y Death-The Editor,
II ali humility, asks the reader to accompa>
ny him through brief review Of the cor
respondehce, recently published. in rela-
ton 70 the unhappy affair which terminated
the existence OF the il}ustrious deceased.
He enters upon this unpleasant task The
more readily and with the more zeal, since
he views, and cannot but view, the death
of General Hamilton as national loss, and
as thelnevltable and deplorab(e efect Of
lang meditated aaa predetermined system oj
hosaLty on the part Of mr.. Burr and his
conFdenffaia90iSeys.
Lest however, he may be misundcr-
stood by some, and knowingly and injnri-
onsly misrepresented by Others, he deems
it fit 10 cause himself so be clearly and dis-
tinctly understood. This, perhaps, is an
homage dne to the honest errors of the less
liberal part of the community.
To a >fesv Of those with whom ! think
and act III whatever relates to the admin
stration of the State and General Govern
ments, it may seem extraordinary that !,
who while the General lived to give com
fo.: to his family, aud splendor to his ma
ton, was opposed to him on some political
points, should, when laid in the cold and
silent tomb, become a guardian Of his
fame, a vindicator of his wrongs # in
the Republican party there is one nan OF
this description, and trust there is not,
would with dilidence beg him to reject,
and exercise, with becoming dignity and
moderation, those intellectual powers with
which it has pleased God to inpart even to
the humblest ofh:s image. ask only for
the privilege of thinking and expressing
my thoughts with exemption from cruel
and overbearing intolerance. A fixed de-
termination, however, to enjoy the one,
will prompt me to due resistance Of the
other. must unthink wha, have thought,
and unlearn what know, before can act
the part ola savage and ne decieves him
self who concludes, thar, in my editorial
pursuits, will be guided by any opinions
but my own. With conscious, and, as
think, becoming pride. utterly disclaim
and renounce that ilIlberality which will
not award to illustrious merit its Just due.
| have, and always had, an exalted opini.
on OF the merits of the deceased, and with
unaffected sincerity and deep regret lament
his loss.
This opinion and this sentiment, howe
yer, will not be construed by the liberal and
the enlightened, into an appreciation of the
political maxims of this great statesman,
nor into derelctiou OF principles formerly
maintained and still tenaciously adhered to.
1t the high pcerogative, the Distinguish
ing power OF the human mind, and most
honorable to man, justly to discriminate in
whatever relates to the fame of those pre-
eminent citizens who give character and
lustre to nation. HAMILTON, | believe,
entertained political opinions at variance
with mine, and on which, manifested, in
many instances by the administration Of
RIr. Adams, and, in one, by that Of Gene
raj Washington, cannot, without unpca-
SAINT sensations reflect. From these, which
while living opposed, I still dissent but,
alas! he is dead and cannot pursue him
to The grave for objj,i7as HONESTLY enter
taioel, calmly and<d ignfedly asserted, lu-
;niaously and instructively enforced, and
conveyed to the public with all tie elegance
OF scholar, and enriched with al the cru
dition Of a distinguished jurist. leave It
to presemptuoas arrogance, to species Of
party rancour which disclaim, to take a
mother course.
So Ear / differed from General Hamilton
in political opinion, but all difference is now
at an end. Death has szodll01ved up in &c
t9ry, cruel and fatal victory, the narrow
isttfmus that separated from this great lumi-
nary those with whom act. know that