Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-13
MAYOR WOnD,S ADDRESS

morning By the Central train, their return to New
York. During their visit to Richmond they made many
warm friends by their accomplished manners fine in
telligonce and modest and graceful dignity of bear.
ing. They We're evidently pleased with the cordial
hospitality extended to them, by Gov. Wise among
others, and they have left behind them most genial
impression.
Mayor Wood, on Tuesday, was received in the
City Hall by the City Council and passed much Of
his time III visiting the most str king objects in Rich
nond, viz: the Capitol aud its fine statues, Holly
wood Cemetery, the Galcgo and TlaxaIl Flour Mills,
the Locks md Dock, the bridges across tho River,
the Trodegar Works, and a spot which was to him
full of pleasing ns-ocinons viz: the corner OF Cary
and Pearl streets. where, when youth twcnty-sev-
naki"5 ~ ---n-a his wages OF s, per week in
mond.
On Friday Mayor Wood visited Hubsrd's fine
bronze copy OF Houdon's Washington, and thence
paid visit to Bucbsnsn's Spring where he was most
kindly received by the l.. l. Blues, Capt j. NJ. Fat
ton Jr., with whom he exchanged cordial greetings
A, the Exchange at night he was waited on by
the Blues who gave him three hearty cheers on part
ing.
A little after 8, on Friday night, Mayor Wood was
intelligent audience in Metropolitan Hall, before
whom, at the invitation of the Ladies OF the Mount
Vernon Association, he delivered his address on the
"Character and Genius of Alexander Hamilton The
address was beautifully written gracefully delivered
and gave universal satisfaction. Many portions were
truly eloGuent and the interesting narrative of Incl
dents in the life of Hamilton, Especially his youth
and his deatb,) and the new aud original views OF
Hamton's political opinions, engaged the deep and
earnest attention of the audience for All hour and
quarter. The following is brief synopsis OF Mayor
Woods address:
After brief alluaion to the objects of the Mount
Vernon Association. and the qualification he felt in
l.,np callsd upon to aid the patriotic design Mr.
Wood proceeded TO consider the snbject he Ind cho
sen. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Hamilton, his character
his genius, his services. He had selected TINS
tnnic he said, because of its peculiar adap-
tation to the objects Of the Associations It
was lin keeping with its patriotic design, that
in an assembly convened to aid in the purchase of
Mount Vernon the subject should be the private and
public vrtues Of one VINO held the closest oiclai anu
ncrsonal relation. to Washington himself. There was
no theme of public discussion more difficult than tha
of tho character of public men, yet living or recently
deceased nor any literary navigation 30 liable to ship
wreck as that which lies through the eddies ana rocR
and uuicksands Of political life. With this conscious
ness If the embarrassmcnts surrounding the topic he
had ,elected the speaker said he would proceed at
onca 10 plain and candid statement of his own
views, for which he alone was responsible.
He then gave brief sketch of Hamilton's early
life showing that even at the age of twelve years,
whsn placed in a counting rouin preparatory TO a
mercantile education, his strong mind and soaring
ambition had developed themselves AZ he grew o'd-
er his friends determined that such mind as MS
shond not mature bereft Of cultivation, and he was
ssnt n Kings (now Columbal College. 1t was
whilst student here that he gave the first scintlla
tions of that genius, energy and courage which so
sipnaIly distinguished his after life. New York at
this period, 772 mo recent convert to the doctrine
of tbe capscity of the eonle for
ae;tated by the increasing oppression of the home 60
yernnent Hamilton was not longin partaklng OF the
snirit of public opinion. He acknowledged no alegl-
anco to England He had never putfoo any other
than American soil breathed any other than Amerl'
can mir His yOutfl ambition was easily fired by what
was going on around him. and having becoms I'M
bned with and absorbed in, the great cause, he was
ready 10 enter the contest with all the resources OF his
po,yerful though as yet, embryo mind
Mr.. Wood adver,ed to speech delivered by HamiI,
ron when hut seventeen years OF age. on the 9TH ot
JnIy. IVA at public meeting in New York, to clect
hv free suffrage in defiance of ministerial authority,
representatives to provincial Conventon-the mrs,
rrlv pnuular election held in that colony, and
narLsns about The first ever held OIL this continent
entirely free in its suffrage. -
From this time the people looked upon Hamilton
ma a prodigy. His presence became indispensable to
svery movement, and we fud him addressing the
naone attacking the the ministry through
the columns of the only journal that could be found 10
sustain the cause, and organizing and dsciplninS
the troops. -. 90 r ,,;.,,
t;onnl freedom, and in opposition TO the British
onnressiou were alluded to. They made, he SAID,
desn impression. When it was discovered that the
voune student of Kings College, who, until then, had
been known only for his fiery eloquence, was the
author the greatest surprise was manifested, and
Hamilton became the lion and the leader OF the sons
of liberty He at placed in the front ranks
of American patriots in New York, whilst the whole
country acknowledged the prodgious intellect OF the
Young collegan.
The speaker next alluded to the e1citemerts perva
ding the popular mind preceding the revolt luton; to
the rst conflict between the patriots and the minis
,,r Al party tte FIRST of March, lI5, and to the
| .trriu. events of the revolution, iu which Hamilton
took an active part. Amidst all the tunuit, he main
ts;ned the coolness of consummae leader. Instead
nj the uugovernabe extremes II which ordinary men
of hjs temperament and youth would have been car.
red hu appeared as the conaervator OF the peac and
tbe sednts reasoner Mr.. W. cited several instances
in which Hamilton interposed TO save properly ana
life from violence. Nor it alone in the capacity
of author, speaker and counsellor, that Hamilton,
even at this age appeared. Astounding indeed sau
Mr. W must it seem to US, that youth OF seven.
teen should combine the rare qualities oi excelnS ~
the discussion OF abstrusc questions OF philosophy An
of vovernment-the capacity TO enforce WIN pen y,
almost pequalled power, tue great truths oi CIVIL on1