The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1842-05-10
.nAMILToN AND Jay.

of the most distinguished patriots oftbe revolution,
is from the October number Of the New York Re-
view. II is written with the hand Of n MASTER
sit were indeed bold task 10 venture TO draw
into comparison the relative merits of Jay and
Hamilton on the flames or fortunes of their conn
ry--a bold task and yet, bold as il is, we feel
impeIled, before closing, at least to venture on
opening it. They were undoubtedly, "par Mobile
fratrum, and yet not t'in bro,hers-"pa,es sed
impares'-hke, but unlike. In patriotic attach
mcnt equal, for who would venture therein TO as
sign to either tho superiority; yet was that attach
mont, though equal in degree vet far different in
kind, with Hamilton it was sentiment, with
Jay princplc-with Hamilton enthusiastic pas
sion, with Jay duty we'll as ove-wi;h Iiamil-
ton patriotism was the paramount law, with Jay
a law "sub graoiori icge.' Either would have
gone through fire and water to do his country
vice, and lay down freely his life for her safety
Hamilton with the reused couraged of lion = Jay
with the calm fearlessncss Of a man; rather,
ITamiltons courage would have been that Of SOL
der--Jays that of Christian. Of the latter 1t
might be truly said
conscience made him firm
That boon companion, who her strong breast-plate
Buckles on him, that fears guilt within,
And bids him on, and fear not
In intellectual power in depth, and grasp, and
versatility OF mind, well in all the splendid
and brilliant parts which captivate and adorn,
Hamilton was greatly, not to say immeasura
bly, Jnys superior In the calm and deeper
wisdom of practical duty--in the government of
himself--in seeing clearly the right and follow
ing it whlthersoever it led, firmly patiently, self
denyly, Jay was again greatly, if not immeasura.
In STA ISe
Hamtons mind had in il more of constructive
power, jays OF Executive Hamilton had GENIUS,
Jay had WISDOM. We would have taken Hamil
ton to plan govern ment, and Jay to carry it into
execution; and il a court of law wS would have
had Hamilton for advocate if our We're
generous,a and Jay for Judge, if our just.
The fame Of Hamilton, like his parts, deem
to shine brighter and farther than jays, but
that II should be so or rather we are quite
sure that it should not. For, when we come
| TO examine and compare their relative course, and
its bearing the country and lis fortunes, tho rep
uta,ion OF Hamilton find to go far beyond
his practical share in it, Jays falls short of his.
fIamiltons civil official life was brief and single.
though brilliant one. Jays numbered the wears
of n generation, and exhausted every department,
of diplomatic, civil, and judicial In fidelity
core; yet Hamilton loved, perhaps, more than
trusted and Jay trusted, perhaps moro than loved.
Such were they. we deem in differing, il mot
conrasted points of character. Their lives too,
when viewed from distance, stand out in equally
striking but much painful contrast. jays
viewed a whole, has in it completeness OF
parts such the nicer critic demands for the per-
lection Of an epic poem, with its beginning of pro-
mise, It's heroic middle, and it's peaceful end and
paraking, too, somewhat Of the cold satei Ii
ness. noble, however, still and glorious, and ever
pointing, as such poem does, to the stars,
''Sic itur at astrc.'' THE life of Hamilton
on the other hand, broken and fragmentary begun
in the darkness Of romantic interest, running on
into the sympathy of all high passion ,ind length
breaking off in the midst, like some half told tale
Of sorrow, amid tears and blood, even aa does The
theme of the tragic poet The name OF Hamilton
therefore, was name to conjure with-that of
Jays to swear by. Hamilton had his 8raiItes,
arising out of passion, as tragic heroes have
Jays name was faulless and is course passionless
as becomes The epic leader, and, in point of fact,
was, while living, name at which fralty bIushed
and corruption trembled. a ..-
II we ask whence, humanity speaking came such
disparity of the fate between equals, the stricer
morals, the happier life, the more peaceful death ,
to what can we trace it but TO tho healhfui power
of religion over the heart and conduct? Was not
this, we ask, the ruling secret' Hamilton a
Christian in his youth,& penitcnt, doubt not
on his dying bed; but Jay Christian, far
as man may judge, every day and hour OF his life.
He had bu. one rule, the gospel of Christ; in that
he was nurtured-ruled by that, through grace, he
lived-resting on that, in prayer, he died.
Admitting, then, do, both names to be OBJ
jects OF our highest sympathetic admiration, yet,
with the name of Hamilton, as the master says of
tragedy, the lesson is given-"wiih pity and in
fear " Not so with that of Jay; with him we walk
fearless, in the steps OF one who was CHRrsT-
IAN as well as PATRIoT.
PEACE PRINCIPL ES.
A CAPITAL AHEoDoTE.
We find this anecdote OF William Ladd in the
last number of tho Democratic Review.