The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-06-28
l3Dhhfai sbisreltaiip



TAFT as H continues to dcvelcpe the secret
srrings by which theSatairs of this nation were
directed during a number Of years. Those
violent, uncotistitutipral, (, and prsricious nica-
stires, which withdrew from Mr.. Adams adj
rninistration the confidence OF the people, and
had we'll nigh wrecked the fair fame acquired
by his revolutionary services, are now traced
to the counscls ai.d influence Of that man, who
was the evil genius Of this country. a COM
bination tf circ.lmstahccs contributed to give
tosALExAxoER HAm:LfoN that power In this
Rcpublick, which brought it to the very brink
of ruin. Born in the. British Wcst-lndics,
and educated in Scotland, ,he passed from the
school md the. counting -house, TO the camp,
with transition too rapid to acquire a know
ledge Of the real character and feelings Of the
nation, orto irnbuc his heart with those re-
publican principles and sentiments Of justice,
which qualify man to he at once a good and
a great citizen, in a commonwealth founded
oh popular freedom and civil equality. 4 hat
he was a man of gcr,ius, cannot be doubted
But that his abilities have been greatly over
rsted will be the more. evident, the more the
history Of his life is known to the publick.--
/. Even in the art Of war, he gave no proofs of
| tu1ents and requirements above those which
constitute the merits of partizan officer. In
political knowledge and disquisition, he was
rathcf pcdanticl. aud stii1, and arroganty valn,
than orlginal, or acute, or sagacious His
plans Of finance were scryi!cly copied from
British models and his doctrines Of political
economy were those Of the aihanatcd com
|. mercial school Yet with all these Ndcduc-
tons, it cannot be denied that he possessed
eudowments and qualifications which might
have been greatly useful, had they been right
. ly employed. He was to certain degree ei-
o1ucfit, and had talent for political intrigue;
was constithtionaly inclined to the love OF
picasure of an ambition ardent and insatia-
BE with a frankness and cantlour which Won
uponthe bchcMsrs. Had circumstances been
I propitious to his views, he was in some de-
gree fitted By nature, and altogether inclined
to play the part of Caesar or CROMWELL. But
he 1nistook his theatre and notwithstanding
lie attempted to hack horse, was driven from
the stage by the impartial spectators, though
he had the art to make his rctircmenc seem
in some measure voluntary. s5e -sfl - =
I No sooner was the Revolution accomplish
cd, ,h.a, Hamilton, like too many Others in
all ages who, after urshcathing the sword in /,
the cause of liberty md Justice, cannot return
Ut to Its scabbafd again without .aimi,ry it at
TIC ritals uf their country, began to cast about
him how he might improve Tie independence.
Iof the nation, into Which chance had tlrot:n
him, 10 his own ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Knowing
:thc congcnial disposition Of those, who, for;
their adherence 10 the enemy, and aiding TO-
sassist him in enslaving us, had boon cxiicd !
from the country, he pleaded for their return,
With zeal and cloqucnce. They were per-
imiucd TO return; aiid with their brethren who
remained in the country, recognized their ad-
yocate and restorer.to whom they were bound
by the tres ofctcrnl gratitude. They had
not rclinquished their anipathy to frcctlom,.
and their blind devotion 10 Britain, but waited
impatiently for the OCCASION, when led by
their new chicf-ss lit body to fl head y they
might crafty both these feelings. ~
In the convention which formed tho new
Constitution, il is well known that this man
proposed form Of government sdbvcrsiye Of
all the rights ofthc people and Of the states
a President and senate for. lte--with the
powers Of the executive enc most extensive
of any Known in limited constitution. He
,dcclated the constitution adopted to be de-
ficicnt in energy, and that it could not last,
and even the most partial of his eulogists,
consider il merit in his character that he
,Was frirndly.to the establishment Of an order
of nobility In directing the measures which
were necessary for the discharge of that debt,
which was tho price Of our independence, he
saw a new occasion to consolidate his grow.
ing power, ty sttaching to it the Irresistible
influence Of wealth. The speculator, who
had purchased eta vast depreciation was pre-
fcrcd to the soldier who had earned with his
blood the evidences of the national obliga-
tions. BY the funding system, a nionicd
interest was created devoted to the service
of Hamilton, and TO- tho support. of any mca-
surcs he might think proper to propose.
AT this period the French revolution broke
upon the assonishcd world. The powers who
had .coniedcratcd TO partition Poland, and to
destroy the free constitution Of that illhted
country, again united to stinc the spirit of