Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-08-20

/ age Wf1en N others VIC iuo'isaS .
I.racter are scarcely visible. In the contest
with Great Britain, which called fofih eve
Isry talent and every passion, his Juvenile
pen asserted the claims Of the colonies, a.
gainst writers from whom it would dero-
gate to say that they were merelyirespecta-
Bic. An unknown antagonist, whose thrust
was neither to be repelled nor parted, exc
cited inquiry; and when he began to be
discovered, tthe effect was apparently SO
disproportioned to the cause, that his pa
.perswere aseribed. to.a statesman who then
7heida happy sway in the councils OF his
country who his since rendered her the
srsaost essential services; and who still hives
toadorn her name.* Bat the: truth could
not long be concealed. The powers of II AZ
sinilton created their own evidence aid
/; America saw, with astonishmens, lad of
seventeen in the rank Of her advocates, at
! g time when her advocates were patriots
; and sages. a distinction thus molly ac-
| -quired, and ably maintained, was pledge
TO the commonwealth, which he lost no
lasime in redeeming. His first step, from
the college, was into military post; his
second-into she family and confidence of
Washington. Here he had opportunities
! OF studying man, from whom no other
man was too great to learn; of analwing
those qualities which met in his character !;
and OF nourishing his own naagnanimity by
free communication with the magnanimi1y
ct his chief. His soand understanding, sris
comprehensive We've, his pronlptitude, ap-
plication, and patience, would have endear-
ed him to~a man iess discriminating than
Washington; but to him they were inesti.
mable, aud they speedily sunk the paerca in
the friend.''
The agency of Hamilton in obtaining a
General Convention, is thus described--
=" The confederation, framed under the
pressure OF common danger, proved une-
quail to its object whenever that pressure
was removed. Thirteen republics, with an
internal organization which commanded
their whole moral and physical force; con-
nected by fictitious tie under head with
out single, effective power afforded spec
taclc OF which it is hard &c say, whetherit
was more ludicrous or melancholy. Such
a condition Of things could not last. The
very first occurrence which should put the
will Of congress at issue with the will Of the
larger states, would have dissolved the
phantom; and shown .Anneriea to be, what
the Discerning at home and abroad already
perceived her to be, in theory, a nation;
In fact, number Of rival and hostile sove-
reigntie.. The evils to De unprecedented
frora such a conflict WAS alarming; ard
they were approaching with no less certain
~, than it is certain that the principles of
human action are MOTTO be altered, nor sus-
pended by compact. The failure of re-
quest from Congress for permission TO levy
a small duty upon imports, was fastening
a crisis which the mighty mind of HamiI-
ton proposed to avert. With the express
intention of making an effort to retrieve
our affairs by establishing an efficient gems,
raj government, did he consent TO ba no.
minated as candidate for the legislature of
this state. The design was magnanmoas.
It embraced the only expedient to prevent
our ruin; but it was Gondaed to few cilo.
sen friends. For suck was the national
ine1perience, and the .poFulac jealousy,
that the leastsuspicion Of his purpose would
have blasted his reputation as an enemy to
freedom. oh, Hamilton! Equally pure
and 6isipteses,cd were alllhy plans, though
often misunderstood and calnnnissed
And now, when there rs no more room for
suspicion, let his country in Judging of
them, not forget, that the very measure
which, at FIRST, she would bitterly have ere
Grated, has been her salvation. Mes, * IS
induhitaBle, that the original germ, out .of
which has grown up her unexampled pros
perity, Was in the bosom Of Hamilton.--
From the.shortlve attempl,of Congress al.