The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-05-11
MAYOR WOOD IN VIRGINIA.
PURCHASE OF MOUNT VERNON.
Address in Aid Of the Fund, at Richmond !.
The Life Times, Character and Gcniss Of Alex.
ander hamilton,
&c, "a. Sr


ander hamilton,
DC, Gs, &c
Special SssNsLondence OF ehs nsw Yorx
Herald.
EXCHANGE HOrhx RICHMOND Va Nay o. 1856
The arrival of your HAyor FernSsSo Wood Esq
has created considerable ssnsstion amcagss tbs go,a
folks Of Richmond. 7hs abN1y and sSsryy diselsy.
cd by this gentlemen since he has been c.led to 1rs
side over the municipal afsr Q, New Y3Tk and ms
readiness In complying wta the sst 70 him By
the committee Of the Ladies' Fund for the ~rcnsse oS
Mount Vernon, to deliver sddrerJ in d OF il.
naturally ensursd him cordial and dlstr rguiaasd 70
ception.
Tho jamestown steamer by which tn. Mayor and bi.
LADY arrived, not reaching her do.k ,r this city lag
down the James river Monds until sns tide
would serve for her coming ups wtsn her pod.
ton was noticed, delegation trorl the city ct
the head of which was the Mayor OF RichmouA
and Mr.. Richie, obtained boats and wont on board
the jamestown to receive Mayor Wood and escorted
him In the boats to the city. where hs waa ths
guest of the Corporation and the Mount Vernon Com
rittee In whose favor ho honor waired b. Cover
Wise. Rooms had been secured for h:r, at the FIX
change Hotel where every thing arranged with great
and splsador for his reception where hs rs
ceiyed ths visits of the leading citizens and thor wve
Several members of Congress here to hear ad
Dress and the aadIence assembled at the Nstropolssa
Hall last night the OCCASION of his lecture
of the largest eve- collected within its walls.
The following il. verbatim report Of Mayor Woods
oration which nsed not add listened to tirousA-
out with the deepest attention. 1t admirably dsii
versd and enthusiastically received and Ia bold s.r
ing ard original p7oduc,ion-for who ess would hAys
to Virginia vindicAte the memory and fame Of
Alexander Hamilton
LIFE, CHARACTER, GENIUS AND PyBIaC SERVICES or
ALEXANDER HAMILTON.
LADIES AND GRSTEAzy-In accepting the invitation -
visit Richmond and deliver address in aid Of ths high
aad patriotic objects OF the Mount Vernon Association
perform most gratifying public duty. Ths only cloud
which hovers around the effort is the doubt in my
mind of my fitness and capacity for the undertaking,
arising not only from the complete occupation Of my
time in the discharge of official duties which has pre-
ccded the attention required for preparation bat from
TIE character of my previous studies which have beea
practical than literary historical. rely upoa
the Iiberaty and universally acknowledged kindness
which much distinguish the people oths city for the
removal OF this Cloud rather than upon my ability
to cispel it in the delivery of this aedross.
have chosen for my subject might Alexander Ham
uton-his charactsr-hs genius-h;s pe Slc servisss-
theme which, Ia its magnitude and interest, wH
supply my deficiency In its disoussion-A subjsect
early hiter, Ct ths country and calls forth and rsvvss
recollection CT the sentiments whioh surroundsl and
imbued the fathers Of the repub will also make .ts
pication to many Of the public questions Of this day and
produce reaes.ioas not at AL Aaerng to boast
advancement, superior intelligence and knowledge OF
government. have selected this topic be,ause of its
peculiar adaptation to the objects of your association II
Is in keeping with your patriotic design. that in
assembly convened to aid in tho purchase Of Mount
virtues Of who held the closest Official and personal
relations to Washington hm sE And IL the spr. of the
Father of his Country permitted to guard these sosss
Of the women Of America IL will look down bsuigaanuy
upon this attempt fsebls though be- to do justice to tha
fame and name Of Alexander Hamilton.
II approaching the discussion Of the LIE and character
Of truly great man ike Hamilton, the mind should b.
elevated anc the spirit ennobled We should vev
the upon which he appeared and tbs events In
which he took part freed from the recollection Of
worthy impu,acns Of the oibss incidental 70 fss
bic nature.
We should but tbs public the ability
the patriotism the genias which marked his progress
through the ul drama 0, life, and IN weighing the
suit OF his exeroDs the advantages derived from his
services and the evidence Of dsneIs devotion 70 hA
country forget the aspsrsiona If any, originating it mar
be- In the eaouses of rivals and the interests Of party
Ny friends there is probably theme Of public df,
cusson diff suit than that of the character of paS
lilo yet living re.ently deceased. N,r Is there
literary navigation liable 10 hpwre,k that which
lies through the eddies ard rosks and qucksaads Of Pc
cal se and with this csnsciousnsss of the smbarras
msnts which surround the topic selected proceed
at to plain and candid statement OF my vtexs
ard for which alone Am responsible. Hamilton de-
scanded from ancient and distinguished Scotch family
though it has teen well said he requ red lustrous
lineage to give rsEoHn to his memory He was native
Of Nevis the smallest OF the Wndward West India Island
then now, under the dominion of the British govern
mep AT the age of IL years he placed IN ths count
ing room preparatory to mercantile education. Even
at ths early period h strong mind sni soaring ambition
had developed thsmseves In letter addressed at that
time 10 schooelow then In New York. he says, 81
the groveing condition OF clerk the hike to
which my fortune conducts ms and would willingly risk
my he but not my character, TO exalt my station.
confident Ned, that my youth excludes mo from any
hopes of immediate preermsnt, d. desire it, but
mean 10 prepare the way for tuturity. philoso
pher you ses and ray be justly saia to build castles in
the air; ray folly makes me ashamed and beg you viii
conceal it, yet Nsddy, We hear such sshemes cssstu
when the protector is constant shall conclude BY say
irg, wish there was war"
Here the letter of the boy frsshAdows tie genius
the Three years afterwards he left the counting
house, and fent to New York. 1t having been wisely
determined By his friends that such mind should not
mature beieft Of cultivation. He frat placed at
grammar school in the vicinity but after transferred
to Krgs (now Columba) College. 1t was whils! stu
cent here that he gave the first sentlia lions Of that
genius, energy and courage which sgnaliy di,u,
guished his after life. The times and temper Of the
people suspicious for the development OF great
minds ard lofty patriotism. New York at this period
772) recent convert to the doctrine of tbs capacity
Of the people tor self governn ent, sgtatsd By tho
increasing oppression Of the home goverr ment say
no recent convert because % years anterior to the
Declaration Of Independence she had proclaimed tbs
principle that the rights OF property were iuaensSs
and rot to be controlled BY government except By hs