Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-04-06

meltlOn oil great ndihes,
your recolIections. How can l stand mere 10
speak of the Constitution OF the unitea ota.eS,
Of the wisdom of its provisions, oil the diihCu'':.
attending It's adoption, OF the evhs from w'h'u :.
rescued the country, and OF the prosperity anu
power to which 1t has raised 1t, and YET pay Io
tribute to those who were highly instrumental "
accomplishing the work? While we are here' 10
rejoice that it vet stands firm and strong; while
we congratulate one another that we live under
;ts benian influence, and cherish hopes of its
long duration, we cannot forget who they were
that. in the day of our national infancy, in the
times of dependency and despair, mainly assist
ed to work out our deliverance. l should teel
that disreearded the strong recollections which
the occasion presses upon US, that was not true
to gratitude, not true TO patriotism, not true to
the living or the dead. nor true to your feelings
or my own, If should forbear to make mention
of ALEXANDER HAMILToN.
Coming from the military service OF the coun'
try, vet youth, but with knowledge and matu-
rty evenin civil affairs, far beyond his years, he
made this city the place of his adoption; and he
gave the whole powers of his mind to the conteni-
plation of the weak and distracted condition OF
the country. Daily increasing IN acquaintance
and confidence with the people Of this city, he
saw. what they also saw. the absolute necessity
of some closer bond of Union for the States
This was the great object of desire. He never
appears to have lost sight OF 1t, but was found IN
the lead, whenever any thing was to be attempt
ed for its accomplishment. One experiment at.
ter another, as is well known, was tried. and all
failed. The States were urgently called on TO
confer such further powers on the old Congress
as would enable it to redeem the public faith, or
to adopt themselves some general and COM
mon principle of commercial regulation. But
the states had not agreed, and were not likely to
agree. =. -. ,.c
In this posture of affairs, 50 full OF public dit
ficultf, and public distress, Commissioners from
five or six of the States met, on the request OF
Virginia, at Annapolis. in Sept. 1856. The pre-
else object of their appointment was, to take IN
to consideration the trade of the United States; to
examine the relative situations and trade OF the
several States; and to consider how far uni
form system of commercial regulations was ne
cessary to their common interest and permanent
harmony. Mr.. Hamilton was one OF these Com
mssoners; and have understood, though can
not assert the fact, that their Report was drawn
by him. His associate from this State was tine
venerable Judge BENSON, who has lived long. and
still lives, to See the happy results of the coun-
sells which originated in this meeting. OF its
members, he and Mr.. Madison are, l believe,
now the only survivors. Those Commissioners
recommended, what took place the next year,
general Convention Of all the States, to take III
to serious deliberatiou the condition of the coun-
try, and devise such provisions as should render
the Constitution of the Federal Government ade-
ouate to the exigences of the Union. need not
remind you, that of this Convention, MIR. Ha
milton was an active ard efficient member. The
Constitution was framed, and submitted to the
country. And then another great work was to
be undertaken. The Constitution would natu-
rally find, and did find, enemies and opposers.
Objections to it were numerous, and powerful,
and spirited. They were to be answered; and
they were, effectually, answered. The writer's
of the numbers of the Federallst, Mr.. Ha-
milton, Mr.. Madison, and Mr.. jay, so greatly
distinguished themselves in their discussions OF
the Constitution, that those numbers are general
" received as important commentaries on the
the text and accurate expositions, IN general. Of
its objects and purposes, Those papers were all
written and published IN this city. Mr. Hamil
ton was elected one Of the distinguished de!ega-
ton from this city, into the State Convention at
Poushkeepsle, called TO ratify the new Constitu-
ton. Its debates arc published. MIR. Hamilton
appears to have exetted, on this occasion, to the
utmost, every power and faculty OF his mind.
The whole question was likely to depend on
the decision of New-York. He felt the full i'm
portance of the crisis; and the reports of his
speeches, imperfect as they probably are, are yet
lasting monuments to his genius and patriotism.
He saw at last his hopes fulfilled: ne saw the Con-
stitution adopted and the Government under 1t,
established and organized. The discerning eye
of Washington Immediately called him to that
post, infinitely the most important, IN the admi-
nistration of the new system. He was made Sc
cretary of the Treasury; and how he fulfilled
the duties of such place, at such time, the
whole country perceived. with delight, and the
whole world saw, with admiration. He smote
the rock of the national resources, and abundant
streams of revenue gushed forth. He touched
the dead corpse Of the Public Credit and it sprung
upon it's feet The failed birth of Minerva, from
the brain of Jovo, vas hardly more sudden, or
more perfect, than the financial system OF the
United States, burst forth from the conceptions
of ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
Your recollcctions. gentlemen, your respect,
and your affections, all conspire to bring before
you, at such time as this, another great man,
now, too. numbered With the dead ] mean the
-... Al, od tho patriotic J0uy law |