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

! y, and we do not hesitate to Join 20 The
general testimony lnat The general pos
Sessec talents and Qualities, such as would
ent'tie any man To distioclion--bu, shall
VIC say THAI he wa3 more intelligent, more
honest, more patriotic, and more brave
| than any other man in America We
vii, not say this for it is not true. Pub
lie sentiment has settled all those matters
long since, and that sentiment was expires
sed when no cause existed to affect the
heart or weaken the Judgment.
When country is divided by parties,
the minority will improve every occasion
TO raise itself, and we cannot fail to dis
Germ in The magnificent funeral solemni-
lies on the occasion some hazard that re-
prblicans will for the moment forget their
abhorrence for the political system of the
general.
While he livedthey spoke plainly of his
system and attached to his name the obi
uni OF it /; but they will never attach this
odlum again to him, unless his friends
shall bring him forward as the unerring
standard Of political right.
If honest mourning is the business let
every man mourn, who is sorry, and eve
~ one weep who has an overstock Of tears,
for his own suferings and those OF his
friends; but if the business is to proceed
further. audparties are to beinvited around
the tomb Of Hamilton, as they were about
the tomb of Washington, we declare for
once that we will aot attend. Too long
were we humb!ed by aristocratic systems
and their authors. Every day Of cur lives
will be either too long or too short for US
to pay homage to them or their ashes.-
Let them sleep in peace; we will call up
nothing which can wound real mourner !;
but il in the guise Of sackcloth our tights
are to be invaded, and our principles cues
toned, we will stand on our defence.
Having thus opened the subject we will
say explicitly that we have many men IN
our country, whose intelligence and inte-
gritty our citizens estimate more highly
than they ever did Gen. IIarai!ton's. The
general. when living might have been the
oracle of party; bat this party was small,
compared with that immense multitude,
IN whose affections and confidence Pre-
s'dent Jefferson reigns, without rival, be.
cause they know not his equal in all those
0NNi 'OhA~of Which, GOliollLubE SICdl ana
good statesman.
In expressing this sentiment we do not
ask for Mr.. Jefferson any idolatrous res
pect, nor Will his friends ask it on any &C
casion of his future destiny. Were he TO
he removed from lie we should not de-
sire Iedcralists 20 wear mourning for him,
nor have we introduced him into the es.
timaIe for want OF others, whom we con-
slider equa! to Mr.. Hamilton but we have
done it to slew by strong case the fall
lacy OF those, who elevate the general
bove all other men.
We lament that the generals talents
We're Ike those Of many other distinguish.
ed men, employed in favor of arisiocra-
cies against the body of the people, and
that national debt and standing army
were in his estimate national blessings
Had his talents been otherwise direGted,
we would JOIN in !amcnting his death as
a loss 10 the country. We consider it a
severe loss to his family, to his friends,
and to the federal interest but should we
shed the tear of sympathy. lei it not be
charged 10 us in our political capacity.
II. Mercury.