The Litchfield County post. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1826-1829, 1826-10-24

merry Governor OF the State Of N. Y. and
Envoy Extraordinary from the u. S. to Great
Britain. This letter was called forth, by a
communication from Judge Peters, informing
Mr.. Jay, that there was then extant two cop
les the Address in the hand writing Of Gen.
Hamilton, which was supposed to indicate
that the performance did not eminate from the
mind of its reputed author, but was in part,
IT not wholly, the production of the schol-
ar, patriot, and statesman, who was, IN the
first instance, a member of WashingtOn's
military family, and afterwards of his cabinet:
and in whom he repOsed entire confidence
through life. This information Mr.. JAY pro-
nOunces unexpected, but declares. the hostile
inference-frOm the circumstance, derOgatOry
as it is to the character of Washington, to be
entirely unfounded; and that from his Oscn
personal Knowledge Of the fact. Although
disclosure was unnecessary, MIR. Jay observes,
at the time the letter was written, yet he fears
that such moment will arrive, and as it was
so uncertain whether he should be alive, or in
capacity to give evidence when necessary, he
concluded to reduce his testimony to writing,
and commit it to the care and discretion of
Judge Peters, to be used as circumstances
might require. Mr.. Jay opens his letter with
very just and forcible observations upon
the moral power of Washington; which en-
able him to carry us with success through the
momentous struggle, and to accomplish the
great results Of the revolution He speaks Of
the manner which he governed an army hast
lily collected, without discipline, and with hab-
its which were repugnant to military subOr-
dination, and of the hold, which he obtained,
upon their affections, SO as to induce them to
adhere to him with unshaken irmness in every
vicisitude; of his frustrating the designs of his
enemies both foreign and domestic; and of his
meeting sail those perplexing embarrassments
which the revolutionary substitution of a new
government,-whicht the want of that power
in Congress which they had not, and Of that
promptitude which no deliberative body can
have-which the frequent restitution and con-
slant uncertainty Of essential supplies,-which
the competency Ofindividuals on whom much
depended, the perfdy Of others, and the mis-
management of many, could not fail to en-
gender We know, and history will inform
pOsterity, that from the first of his military
career, he had to meet, and encounter, and
surmount, rapid succession Of formidable
difficulties, even down to the time when his
country was enable, by the success of their
arms, to obtain the honorable peace which
terminated the war. His high and appointed
course being then finished, he disdained the
intimation Of lawless ambition to prolong it
He disbanded the army under circumstances
which required no common degree Of policy
or virtue and with universal admiration and
plaudits, descended joyfully and serenely, in
to the shades retirement They who ascribe
all this to the guidance and protection Of pro-
violence do well, but let them recollect that
providence seldom interposes in human af-
fairs, but through the agency of human
means.
"Whcn at subsequent and alarming peri
cd, the nation found their affairs had gone in
to confusion, and that clouds portending dam
ger and distress were rising over them in ev-
cry quarter, they instituted under his auspices
more efficient government, and unanimously
committed the administration of it to him.
Would they have done this without the high
est confidence in bis political talents aud wis
dom Certainly not-no novice in navigation
was ever unanimously called upon to take the
helm or command of a ship on the point Of
running aground among the breakers. This
universal confidence would have proved a u
UNIVERSAL mistake, had it not been justified by
the event. The unanimous opinion entertai-
ned and declared by whole people in favour
of any fellow citizen is rarely ERRONEOUS, es-
pccially in times of alarm and calamity.
ITO delineate the course, and enumerate
the measures which he took to arrive at sue
cess, would he to write a volume. The firm
ness and policy with which he overcame the
obstacles placed in his way by the derange-
ment Of national affairs, by the devices of do
mestic demagogues and Of foreign agents, as
well as by the dileterious influences of the
French revolution, need not be particularized.
Our records, and histories, and memories
render it unnecessary. 1t is sufficient to say,
and it can be said with truth, that his admin
istration raised the nation out of confusion in-
to order, out of degradation and distress into
reputation and prosperity: it found us with.
cring; it left us Aourishing.
lis it to be believed that after having thus
led the nation out of bewldered state, and
guided them for many years from one degree
of prosperity to another, he was not qualified
on retiring, to advise them how to 60 on :?
And what bat this is the object and the bur-
then of his Valedictory Address He was per-
suaded that, as the national welfare had been
recovered and established, so it could only be
preserved and prolonged by continued and
steady adherence to those principles Of sound
policy and impartial justice which had invari-
ably directed his administration.
although the knowledge of them had
been spread and scattered among the people,
here little, and there little, yet being de-
| srOus to mark even the last day of his public
life by some act Of public utility, he address
sed and presented them to his fellow citizens
in points of light so clear and strong as to
make deem imnraSc;Onc an tho x,,hNse ,,~;,~A