Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-07-21

/ the source Of our prosperity. In signing
that compact he exprest his apprehension
! that it did not contain sufficient means of
! strength for its own preservation; and that
in consequence we should share the fate OF
MANY other republics and pass through A
narchy to Despotism. We hoped Better
things. We conhded in the good sense of
the American people; and above all we
trusted in the protecting Providence OF the
Almighty. On this important subject he
never concealed his opinion. He dlsdain-
ed concca.ment. Knowing the purity OF
his heart, he bore it as it were in hi hand,
exposing to every passenger us mmost
recesses. This generous iudiscrction suh-
iected him to censure from misrepresenta-
ton. His speculative opinions were treat
ed as deliberate designs; and yet you all
know how strenuous, how unremittng
were his efforts to establish and oppressive
the constitution. If, then, his opinion was
wrong, pardon, oh! pardon that single er-
.ror, In ahie devoted to your service.
Alta time when our government was Or
ganized, we were without funds, though
not without resources. = o cah them Into
action, and establish order in the finances,
Washington sought for splendid talents,
for extensive information, and above ali,
he sought for sterling, incorr0ptble integ-
rity. All these he found il hamilton
The system then adopted has been the sub
iect Of mach animadvcrsion. il 1t be not
without fault, let il be remembered that
nothing human is perfect. Recollect the
circumstances of the moment; recoilect the
conflict Of opinion: and above all, remem-
Der that the minister 9fa republic mR25 5ead
to the will ofthe beople. The admiaistra-
ton which Washington formed, was one
OF the most efficient, one OF the best that
any country was ever blest with. And She
result was a rapid advance in power ana
prosperity, Of which there is no example
in any other age or nation. The part winch
Hamilton bore is universally known.
His unsuspectipg confidence in profes,
sions which he believed to be sincere, led
him to trust too much to the undeserving.
This exposed him to presentation.
He felt himself obliged to resign. The
care Of a rising family, and the narrowness
of his fortune, made it duty to return 20
his profession for their support. But tho
he was compelled to abandon public life,
never, no, never for moment did he a
bandon the public service. He meyer lOsl,
sight Of your interests-I dc clare to you,
before that God in whose presence we are
now so especially assembled, that in his
most private and confidential conv creations,
the single objects of discussions and consi-
Iteration were your freedom and happi.
ness.
You will remember the state Of thing,
which again called forth Washington from
his retreat to lead your armies. You
know that he asked for Hamilton to b. his
Second in command. That venerable sag
well knew the dangerous incidents OF NJ
litary profession, and he fels the hand Of
time pinching life at its source. |. was
probable that he would soon b. removed
from the scene and that his Second woula
succeed to the command. He knew, b,
experience, the importance OF that place
aud he thought the sword OF Americ
might safely be conhded to the hand which
now lies cold in that coffin. Oh! my ftl
low-citizens, remember this solemn test;
monial that he was not ambi Gus. Yet
was charged with ambition; and wounde,
by the i1nputation, when he lad down hi
command, he declared, in the proud indie
pendence of his soul, that he never would
accept of any Office, unless in foreign war
defence Of his country. This dettrmina
ton was immoveable. 1t was his fan
that his opinions and his resolutions coui
not be changed, Knowing his own fir
purpose, he was Indignant at the charg