Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-26
From the Yhginia Patriot.
HAMILTON.

y"na the slandrr OF envy, we may ven.
ure to introduce his Name to our rea-
lers. This great man while living was
hamelully reviled, and as our Saviour
was, by men not worthy to open the latch
es of his shoes 1t is not our purpose
to speak his eulogy. HIS virtues were
exalted, his character far above our
praise. Suffice it to say he was the IA
vorite of Washington, and shared undi-
minishedly to the last moment OF his
life in his confidence. The Heralds OF
a thousand yeats could not hay more !!
Since the formation of the American
government, insidious attempts have
been made by the political enemies of
Mr. Hamilton to depress his elevated
character, and to prejudice the people Of
the United States against him. Alter
the revolution, and indeed until this day,
the American people were and are jca-
lous Of their rights, and hate the man,
when they could suppose not to be, like
them, attached, to the principles o! our
inestimable constitution, No more Ger
tain engine could be put into operation
to make a man odious in the sight OF The
people, than by representing him as at
tachcd to the principles OF aristocracy.
The integrity of Ha,nilton's political
op!nionr were assaiIed by the br@ath of
invidious calumny, false unmerted slam
der. He was BY the parasites of demo-
cracy charged with all overweesing at
tachment to principles hostile to the &C.
MUS and spirit of our constitution With
how much truth let the following letter
shew. Hamilton himself could never
descend to refute the foulness of the Ca
lumny. He was willing to be tried by
The people, on the testimony which his
services in war for independence offer
ed. If bis conduct through life, and his
behaviour among men, if the many re-
lies of his great and pure intelligence
every where floating through the coun-
t,y--if the preference of Washington.
and the admiration of honest men did not
acouit him, he was willing to bear all
the disgrace that alsehood and political
machination cou d in.pute. The follow
ing letter was addressed TO MIR. Picker
ing not for the public but for the salts
faction of his friend Mr.. Pickering
having noticed the aspersions which had
been repeatedly heapcd upon the poiiti-
cal reputation of Mr., Hamilton: on &C
count of his conduct in the convention
that formed the constitution, in the soil
cirude of friendship, desire Of himself
to furnish memorandum of the strong
est measures he had proposed in the
convention.
Mr.. Haaiilton answered as follows:
New. York, September lo.
My DEAR SIR,
l w,lI naSc no aP"los! for my delay
IN answering your enq@'ry some time
since made, because ,ouid utfer none
which would satisfy myseil--I pray you
only to believe that it procceGsd from e.
ny thing rather than WHIT uf respect %,
regard shall now comply with yout
request
The highest toned propositions which
4 y
sldent, SCI ate aud judges, outing god
behaviour . House OF R-p:csent.uves
ior ihres years Though l osuld hsy,
enlarged tie ica lsia,lve power OF the
general gosei.m.no yet never con-
,cmplatId lie. abaii,Inn OF the state go.
yerrments; but o., tie contrery, trey
wer,, IN soEe Particulars, c"nstltu-
ent .ar.s O, :nr plan,
To-, p,as was, In my conception cen
form1c.e Wit. the strict theory Of 90
vc,nmcnt purely republican, the essen
tel C'lter.a Il which are, that the prin.
eipai organs of the Executive and LIE.
gislaIve departments BIT elected bv the
people, aud held their offices by re.
sponsitlS and temporary or aefeasibie
nature.
A vote was taken on the proposition
respecting the Executive. Five states
were in favor of it /; among these V.rei-
MIA; and the manner Of voting by de-
legations, individuals were not dls,in-
guishcd; it WAS morally certain, from
The known situation of tie Virginia
members (slx in number, two of them
Mason and Randolph protesting popu-
lar doctrines) tnat Madison must have
ccncurrcd IN the vote Of Viiginia-
Thus, if / sinned sgsinst republicanism,
Mr., Madison was not less guilty.
] may truly then Say that never pro.
posed either President or Senate fer
life, and that / neither recommended |
nor meditatcd the annihilation Of the
state governments.
AID, may add, that in the course
ofthe discussions in TIE convention, nei.
tier the propositions thrown out for
debate, nor even those voted in tie ear.
,ier stages of delibe.u'ion, were consi-
Gered as evidences Of a definite oniniop
il the proPoser or voter. 1t appeared |
tonne te be in some sort unterGs. o., that,
with view to free in,es,ie. ton. expe-
mental propositions might be made, |
which we're 10 be received merely as
sue gestions for consideration. Accord