Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-14

".
less He was taken on board the barge, and
continued insensible until he was about hfty
varde from the shore, when he revived IN con-
Sentence of the applications MADE 10 that enc,
and said (" my vision is indstlnct" His VISION
became clearer, and seeing the pistol winch. ne
had held in his hand, he said, lake care OF
that nistol it is undischarged, and still cooked,
Il M p ro off and do harm; Pendleton knows
7 did not mean to fire at him." 1t would thus
seem that Hamilton was ignorant that he mad
discharged his pistol. AS he approached the
shore he said, I" Let Mrs. Hamilton be lmmedl-
ately sent for; let the event be gradually pfoheh
to her but give her hopes"
General Hamilton lived IN agony uhtli wv
o'clock in the afternoon of the following day
In the affecting narration Of DR.. Hosack OF the
closing scenes of Hamiftons life, he says, Inc
GREAT source Of his anxiety seemed to be IN MS
svmpathy with his half distracted wife and chill
dren He spoke to me frequently of them; my
beloved wife and Children were always his eX-
nressons. His fortitude triumphed over his
situation. dreadful as it was. Once indeed, at
the SIGHT of his children brought to the bedside
together seven in number, his fortitude forsook
him; he opened his eyes, gave them one look,
and closed them again until they were taken
away He alone could calm the frantic gfiel OF
their mother Remember, my Eliza, you are
a Cbrstian.' were the words which, with firm
voice. but in a pathetic and impressive manner
his narrative with the truly appropriate words:
"Incorrupta fides-nudaque vertas;
Quando ullam nveniet parem!
Mullis lille uuidem flebs occidit."
AS the state of public opinion then was and
as it may still be with some persons, was Ham
lion iustifiable in hazarding his life against
such foe as Aaron Burr? No one will deny
that in whatsoever remarks he may have made
on the conduct and character Of Burr, he was
influenced by good and patriotic motives. II he
thought it was dangerous to trust Burr with pow
er in the republic, was he not right IN STRIVING
to prevent his eIevation?* If he thoughthe dis
cerned the real character of this man, was he
forbidden to disclose it, to prevent public evil!
What rule is man to prescribe to himself, in an
elective republic as to disclosing what he may
honestly believe to be promotlve OF the pubic
welfare, and preventive of public mischief! IN
such a case it is believed that one has the right
| to speak the truth Of men, from good motives,
and for iusti6able ends, especially when the par
ty spoken of is candidate forpublic suffrage
! But prudence requires that one should be care
full to whom and before whom he speaks. Hav-
ing spoken from good motives and for Justlfl-
| able ends no rule prescribed by any respecta-
| bic authority demands of one to risk his lie
! fthis be not not so, reckless Catalina may ST.
| ence thousand Ciceros In this case Hamll-
| ton was in trying condition. He had spoken
|
disavow what he had said, nor could he aplo-
gize, because he thought he had spoken only
! what was true and that it was right so to speak
| He was soldier, and could not bear the lmpu
tation of wanting spirit; least OF all could he bear
the supercilious Wanting of Aaron Burr that he
had been called by him to account, and shrunk
from the call But Hamilton mistook the pro-
| bable Judgment Of the world. IT he had retus-
ed the meeting with Burr public opinion would
have absolved him. He thought this could moi
be so. He went to the field of death from mis-
taken but elevated sense of selfrespect, Doubt
| full of the public Judgment, yet feeling how per-
nicious his example might be, he conceived
! himself bound to bespeak the candor of the
world, if it should be his fate to fall The last
paper he ever wrote was the following:
"On my expected interview with Colonel
Burr | think it proper to make some remarks
explanatory of my conduct motives and views
81 was certainly DESTROYS of avoiding this in
| terview, forthe most cogent reasons l. My re
ligious and moral principles are strongly
| opposed to the practice of duelling and it would
ever give me pain to be obliged to shed the blood
Of fellow creature, in private combat for
! hidden by the laws. 2. My wife and children
are extremely dear to me, and my life is of the
utmost Importance to them, in various views. g.
| feel sense of obligation towards my credi.
tors who, in case of accident to me, may by
! the forced sale of my property, be in some de-
gree sufferers. did not think myselfat llber-
ty, as man of probity, lightly to expose them
to this hazard. a. am conscious of no i'll will
to Colonel Burr, distinct from political opposi-
ton which, as trust, has proceeded from pure
and upright motives. Lastly, shall hazard
much, and can possibly gain nothing by the is
| sue of the interview.
"But it was as | conceive, impossible for me
| to avoid it, There were intrinsic difficulties in
the thing, and artificial embarrassments, from
the manner Of proceeding on the part of Colo
mel Burr. Intrinsic, because it is not to be de.
MED that my animadversons on the political
principles, character, and views of Colonel
Burr, have been extremely severe; and on diff
ferent occasions, J. in common with many others,
have made very unfavorable criticisms on
particular instances of the private conduct of
this gentleman
SIN proportion asthesc impressions were en-
tertained with sincerity, and uttered with mo-
tives and for purposes which might to me ap-
pear commendable, would be the difficulty, Gun
til they could be removed by evidence of their
being erroneous) of explanation OF apology
The disavowalreq of me by Colonel Burr,
in general and indefinite form, was out of my
power, fit had been really proper for noe to sub
| h,t, h,,f I 81,