Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-05-23
Al XANDER HAMILTON.

ALEXANDER HaMlLTCV was horn on the
island of Nevis. in the British West In
dies on the Ill. of January 1857 lie
was ut Sc.tch blood on the patcrnal and
"f Ga lic on the maternal side He lnsi
his mother when "a child and his ednea
ti"n was lntrusted to Presbyterian elcr
gyman. by the name of Knox. of the is
land of St Croix Attwclee wears of age
he was placed in the courting room of a
merchant Of that island where his talent>
and ambition soon displayed themselves
The following prophecy of the future man
Is from letter written to a fellow clerk
before he was thirteen. Il cnntemn- the
grnveling condition of c,erk 10 which
my fortune condemns me and would will
ilnsly risk my life, though not my charac
ter. tn exalt my station; | mean, to pre-
pare the way for futurity"
In 1872. Hamilton came to New York
aud at the close of l773 entered & .Ium.
bia College where he made extraordina-
ry displays of richness "f genins and en-
'rty of mind . 1t was during his college.
lie that the country was rouS d tn the
consideration of British aggression aud
American independence lie took strong
and decided revolutionary grounds and
wrote and spoke in 50 clear and fprcihle "a
manner. as tn attract the attention af the
wisest mlnds engaged in that controversy
r. Cooper principal nf the college aud
several Others of the ablest Tory writers
we're cnnfnun,ied by the profound prin
ciples able reasoning and sound policy 4"
of his essays and would not believe that
they were the productions of youth of
seventeen He also jpined a volunteer
company of militia while in college. and
made himself familiar with all the tactic;
and theory of war.
In l776 Hamilton was appointed to the
command of company of artillery and
from that time up to 1891. he was in CON.
slant, active service. mostly as aid to the
commander in chief In that capacity he
won the admiration aud love at all his of
hcers, and became. in " a>hingtons own
words. = his principal and most con6deh-
tial aid" General Washington intruSted
him with the most delicate and difficult
diplomatic duties. and with nearly all his
important correspondence lie rendered
most essential aid, by his advice and cnun-
sci, in restoring the confidence of the ar
my and improving the currency. In
deed there is scarcely plan which was
adopted by Congress during tie admins
tration of Washington, which does not
bear the mark of his mighty genius
In 1880, he married the second daugh-
ter If Ma or General Schuyler aud devo-
ted his attention to TIE law. lie rose
rapidly i'll his profession. and soon st"od
at the head of the New York bar lie
did mt, however. retire from the arena If
political strife. and in 1872 took his seat
i'll Congress, where his genius and sound
common sense were speedily felt and the
proceedings of Congress immediately re
sumed new aud more vigorous tune and
character" He retired from Congress in
1888. aud resumed TIE practice "f his pro-
fes>iou in New York where his clear nil d
and lucid elo;pIence won tor him tie ad
miration of all
But the services of such man could
hot be well spared By the country at such
IL time. In 1856 he was sent To the gei.-
cral Assembly of New York, and was clio-
sen by that body one "f tie three New
! FORK delegates To the General Convention
recommended BY Congress to be holden
db III -'idN Cf Ills SER
vices member "f that august body
were exceedingly valuable; and when, ON
the recommendation of the convention the
constitution was presented to the people
for their adoption, Hamilton. in c"njunc
tion with Jay and Mr.. Madison connen-
ced and completed that series of ESSAYS.
composing the two volumes of the Ie.fe,-
o/tsf. as profound in their logic. as they
are brilliant III execution and patriotic in
spirit Ofthese ei2lrty-ive papers, Mr. Jay
wrote five, Mr. Madison twenty, and Mr.
Hamilton the balance
On the adoption Of the Constitution.
Mr.. Hamilton was called by Washing ton
tn the head of the Treasury department
where for FIVE years he exhibited the same
zeal and fitness for Office that had always
marked his career.
From this period until his untimely
death. he divided his time between the
duties of his profession and those Of pub
lie life, awaking general admiration by the
brl!ancy of his talents. and winning The
respect and esteem of all by his many
amiabe virtues
On the 9TH of July, he fell in mortal
com bat By the hand "f Aaron Burr, aud
T. all ..merica aud Europe mourned his
untimely fate