The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-10-09
Col. A. Hamilton to Gov. clinton.

I" The tcedkness of our councils tcM be our MINI
Ridiculous resoipes-Ialisting prisoners of ,car--
Want Of good fauh-Erchange of Prisoners
Honesty the best poiicy-1A faith of Congress
Destr.ction Of the enemies vessels
There Is vein Of good old, sound sterling, un-
bending honesty running through all this great
statesman's correspondence, which il will be well
for our politicians of the present day to read and
initiate. We call their attention particular to the
following sentiment, we had almost said prophecy,
for it is but too truly fulfilled =
II 1t should once seem TO be a system of any
State to violate It's faith whenever it is the least
insonvenient to keep it, it will PROFESSIONALLY have
an Ill effect upon foreign negotiations and tend to
bring government at home into contempt, and of
course destroy its influence ("
HEAD QuARrEns
March l2th IT'S.
Capt Coleman delivered nae your two letters Of the 9Th
and 9Th instant. "
dispose me, whenever have any thing to communicate
thai may be worth your attention. that appears 10 me
SOTO trouble you with my sentiments: But shall not
expect you to make equal quantity or
eqsency-fou will, in this, intirey consult your own
had previously aattered myself that your IDEAS and
mine would correspond in certain matter, and am
glad to find was not msaken.I doubt the defects
Of certain synod will appear to you not the subject of
speculation only but disorders the state that re-
quirc remedy, and WILL far your influence reach
e. contribute to it-Shall speak what seems 10 me
most melancholy truth lit is thisthat with the most
adequate means to ensure in contest, the
weakness Of our councils WILL in ali probability
Arrangements on which, the existence of the army de-
pends and almost the possibility another campaign are
delayed in most astonishing manner and doubt whe-
Their they will be adopted at all. Hn8
A late resolve directs G W. [Gen. Washington to fix
the number of men under which u lGen How vel shall
not send any parties out of his lines pain OF being
treated as marauderThe folly of this truly rdcu-
lous but a. there perhaps nothing but folly may
be excused in themAnother resolve made for furnishing
kdnappers who aid the enemy in carrying off
the peaceable inhabitants has retrospective view to
those who have assisted well perspective to
those who shall in such pracces-Thus we have
gotten into the spirit Of making sspo aco lsws or
ther violating all law. Another resolve BY plain imp
cation, acknowledges thing not founded act which
Ii sery injurious 70 usto wit that have Unlisted pr.
soners ofwarThis silences all complaints against
the enemy for similar practice, and furnishes them with
ec-This is at least an instance Of folly and
tion.-and serves to prove the general Charge
These men seem also to have embraced system of inf-
dclity-They have violated the convention of Saratoga
and have reason to believe the ostensbe motives for it
were little better than preences, that had foundation
Il have lately letters from Burgoigne the
subject.-Thsre however strong temptation for
this and may be excused though cannot say the
sure is to my tasteLaely, nag, with provisions and
cloathing for the British prisoners with @ W. [Gen.
Washingtonl passport seized at LancasterThe affair
attended with circumstances of violence and
that would disgrace hoentots-Still moro lately-G W.
(0en Washngton's engagements with H, (Gen Howell
Tor exchange Of prisoners has been most shameuy
shall take place till all settled and the bal
lance due the u 81 UNITED States] paid The beauty
itis-that on fair OF settlement, shall without doubt
be in Mr. Howe's debt and in the time detan
his officers and soldiers security for the payment
The operation of this resolve though it not plainly
appear upon the face Of it, is to put off exchange per-
haps for At any rate cannot take place all
summer.
1t is thought to be bad policy to 20 into an exchange
but admitting this to be true, 10 much policy to
commit such frequent breaches Of faith, and ruin
tonal character. Whatever refined politicians may think
lit Of great consequence to preseve national charac
ter and hit should to be system any state
to violate its faith whenever it IL the least nconv
to keep it, will unquestonably have an ilefiect upon
foreign negotiations and tend to bring Government at
home into contempt and Of course to destroy its influence
The general notions Of justice and humanity are i'm
planted IN almost every human breast and ought not to
be too freely shockedln the present casehe passions
Of the country and army the side Of exchange
and studied attempt to avoid it will disgust both,
make the service odous will injure drafting
and recruiting discourage the militia and increase tn
Of the army The prospect Of hopeless capt.
exposed to the chance OF Those, whose lot il to fa
in:o it, will have little scruple to get rid of by oinin
It is said to be present interest TO exchange
cause we should endeavou by and by to take advantage
If we should fail in this which believe we sha-whe,
they get reinorcedwe shall think interest t.
add to the strength Of enemy already strong enough
The truth is considered in the view of barter
never be interest to exchange; the constitution
OF army from the short term Of nlistment the de
pendence obliged to place in the militia are strong
ly opposed to it and the argument Of present interest
be adhered to- never can exchange Il may venture tc
assert, there can be time more proper than the
present. rather month or two hence and, 60 about
please, the previous negotiations
some time. And woul AJAX, whether in a republican
state and republican army such cruel policy Is thai
ofexposng those who ormost in defence of their
country the mseres of hopeless captivity succeed
For my part have much of the milk Of humanity
in me, that abhor such Nsromian maxims and look
upon the old proverb that honesty the best policy be
i aop l1v OoOd