Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-08-18

Indignation against him, ask themselves
y" Honla Hamilton hGUe done This i?
{ Mr.. Burr is amenablc To the laws Of
his country-if justice is exaGted of him,
;iet 1t be according to the measure thew
meie, and not agreea6iy to the i'm pulse OF
revenge felt by his personal and political
enemies.
! When federal papers represent the
whole country as in deep mourning for
The "greatess man in America" as they
call General Hamilton, and pronounce his
loss "National Calamity" they shew
that they are ignorant OF. facls or destitute
OF candor. BY the death Of Cen. Hamil
ton, his family, his friends, his party,
have indeed suffered a great loss--,hese
may well mourn for him, and with these
a general sympathy will be fcl,--but can
those who are not bound to HIM by the ties
OF relationship, or the endearments of
fellowship, or similarity OF sen,iments-
who have looked upon him as the author
OF most OF the political evils that have be-
lei us, and the chief of party who are
still struggling TO enslave us--Can these,
say, be supposed sincerely to lament his
death, and bewail it as "national Gala.
NIFTY :"--They connot--they do not.
They regret that he counienanced by his
example so vile practice, and ended his
HE IN SO ignoblc manner; but to say
they are sorry that his presence Can no
more animate the enemies Of our rights,
or that his talents will no more be employ
ed IN devlslng and supporting systems and
measures injmical to the happiness of the
country, is what believe no true repub
lican can say sincerely. They do not re-
lo'ce at his death; but they do not so deep
~ deplore 1t as they are represented.
1t appears clearly 10 me, that the high
euiogIums pronounced on General Hamil-
ton are intended to have the same effeG
as the harangue of Mark Anthony over
the dead body OF Julius C;esar-to multi
ply and magnify his vrtues--,o throw a
thick veil over his faults and frail,ies-to
degrade his political enemies--to fire with
degree of phrenzy his friends, and con-
sign the man by whose hands he fell to
The dagger or the bowl: And as the
friends oil Cesar through sympathy for
his fate, and by leading on his infatuated
partizans 10 avenge his death, succeeded
in crushing the spiri, of liberty, and esla
blishing horrid despo,ism in Rome-so
would the f,icnds OF Cen. Hamilton in
like manner employ his death 10 efIeGt
these political purposes which in his life
they could not accomplish.
And he.e | cannot but express my sur
prize, that some Republican Editors, who
have till now seemed" as with hurricane
OF zeal transported, and virluous even 10
madness" should not only accompany the
tederalists in their lamentations, but out
so them IN Their Eulcgiums that they
would defy him when dead, whom they
pretended to despise while living AT
the head orthis class of Editors, observe
Mr.. Cheetham, of New-York, publisher oil
the " American Citizen" for his very
extraordinary conduct know no reason,
though have heard many assigned, the
most charitable Of which do him no honor.
IT the part he aGls is taken out of hatred
TO MIR. Burr, the motive is unworthy of a
man. When person is down, would
generous enemy continue his blows
When he has his antagonist in the dust,
must he grind him to powder? Can his
behaviour proceed from an apprehension
that Mr.. Burr will ever attempt to rise -
Mr.. Burr is but the shadow of what he
was; and "Can he who field The monster,
tear the ghost "--The following extract
from MIR. Cheetlam's eulogium on Mr..
Hamilton, will serve as sample of the
whole performance
Oils private virtues, his public services,
his great abilities, Involuntary excite
III me the warmestesteem for his memory.
"Of his private virtues there is no diff
e"ence Of opinion. All men, of all parties,
speak of them with rapture, and acInow-
ledge them with admiration. To these,
wee pays involuntary homage. The plot
ing, mischievous citizen, whose bloody
hand, guided by cool mallgnancy, terini.
mated hsexistencc, will acknowledcethem.
In alt tie firipate rciafi9ns of life he 7Oas ho.
nest. Jai'hfni, generous and humane. His
heart was the seat Of every manly virtue.
No man ever impeached his integrity with
any color Of justice. In vain haze harfy
collisions and ranCoEr ransacked tubYc re.
cords, and exhausted i'rivatc inguisition, Tor
q blcmsi."
On this elaborate eulogium shall onIv
observe that il is not calculated TO add to
the fame OF either the eulOgized OF the eu-
lOglSf, but TO deDre ciafe both