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

devotion tD military HE truly lnaryrnus thus Dre
senting, in the same person, the possession of TIT
three great mental energies by which thrones hav,
been destroyed, revolutions achieved and States es
tablisbcd.
The speaker next approached the most interesting
period in the youthful career of Hamitnn-tha CON
meuceinent Of his connection with the Revoutonar,
army: and sketchrd his meritOrious services when,
captain OF q company. he attracted the notice o
Washington, who invited him into his military famiI,
rs aud .cnmp, with the rank of Lieut Colonel
which Hamilton accepted with reluctance preterru!
To await IN" certain promotion which he well knew
his success in the line of the army would command
In this position he served his chiet with constanry
anu devotion that have never been surpassed. II i
well known tsaid Mr.. W. that many OF the dis
patches and official papers, which bore the signature
ct Washington during this relation, were prepared b.
Hamilton. In the difficulty with General Gates
growing out Of The correspondence Of that office
with General Conway, Hamilton rendered esseutia
AID; ahd IN the subsequent attempts of cabas to sup
plant the commander chief, he served him with
hdeilty and skill; and not ONLY Hamilton, but thu
whole colony Of New York sustained him also, wheI
his good name was thus assailed.
The speaker then continued the review of thu
scenes OF 7S ~ aud Sn. during the whole of which
Hamilton maintained his constant fidelity to his gen
eral and drew vivid portrait of the two remarka
BILE men, who though closely attached In each other
presented the most striking contrasts He related the
circumstances under which Hamilton resigned his DO
stl0n vi aid de.camp, OH the 10Th of February, 1871
circumstances at the time painful to each. An IF
Tort lie said, was subsequently made by Washington
To induce Hamilton to return To his post but Hami
ton, being desirous of an opportunity to distinguish
himself IN some position of command was averSe tC
resume place presenting no hope for advancement
and 50 restricted in IFS chance tor military distinction
Their official relations, then existing ceased for
ever; but the affection and mutual esteem re.
maned through life.
Our limits forbid any sketch of Mr.. Woods alu.
sons to Ham:ltons subsequent career in the revou.
tlouary army Ii wa1, he sad brilliant charge Ot
infantry led by Hamilton, upon one Of the principal
rednubts of the enemy, that virtually decided the
battle Uf Yorktown.
He next adyerted to his aervicas in the "somewha;
unpopular Congress of 1882" in which hs WAS se-
ected 10 prepare address to the several State Com
venons recommending general COW entinn, for the
establishment Of q constitutional government From
this action resulted the meeting at Annapolis, five
years afrr-whIch subsequently led 10 the cnnven.
tion Of Philadelphia, from which enanated the glo.
rOus fabric universally recognized Except be
by few abolition madmcnl Us the charter by which
we have maintained our liberties and preserved our
Union.
Mr. Wood denied the allegation that in this con-
vention Hamilton advocated monarchica doctrines
and declared sentiments directly antagonstic to the
principles upon which the present constitution was
established; he asserted that, far from being an
enemy 10 our present system, he was the first man
who proposed and advocated the general form Of guy
ernrnent which adopted by that convention,
many years before the idea of general confederu-
ted government like this ever dreamt OF in the
philosophy OF the most utopeHn enthusiast. Upon
the part he took in the debates, the propositions he
made and the plans he suggested for system of
government the speaker comnente. at some length.
In continuation Of this branch Of his subject he
said:
"Throughout the whole was displayed strong bias
in favor of the elementary principles of free elec
tiuns-the conservative principle which alone has
kent lOnV tOypthpr. huaIu-Rnd which tjr.
ginia and other Southern States, il a matter of no
small mpment-his plan recognized the right to slave
property, and its correspondent representative right
is fully maintained by him in the power granted TO
Congress 10 levy taxes OH the basis of tlree.nttbs
population. IN the recognition Of this fundamental
principle OF taSati0n established the nature and
character of the representative appOrtinnn-n;, and
it il worth remembering just now, that not only did
the convention nl"pt his proposition IN this respect
but thst il also aIseTei Ia and approved OF, by
all the States in the Union in their acceptance and
10 the national compact.
III repeat that he was in the main, the father Of the
leading principles Of the present CONSTITUTIONS and in
this opinion bur what has before been slated
by Governeur Morris, and men equally eminent
among his contemporaries
After dwelling further upon lIamtons services In
tPg 3yRSrHtipR,F pdu hi3vDpient ajL ulsubdune the
wisdom Mr.. Wood adverted t5 his services while Se-
cretary of the Treasury, under Washngton's admin
istration The system Of finances and revenues
which he then devised stands. after lapse OF sixty
wears, unstered and uHainended, as monument OF
lis Immense financial and executive skill. In this
connection he quoted remark OF Webster IN his cell
ebrated eulogy of Hamilton, that "He smote the rock
ns the national resources, and abundant streams OF
revenue gusled forth He touched the dead corpse OF
the public credit. and il ,prang upon its feet The
fabed bird Of Minerva from the brnln OF Jove, was
hardly mors perfect than the financial system OF the
United States, rs II burst forth from The conceptions
of Alexander Hamilton"
We are compelled 10 pass over the greater portion
Of Mr. Woods remarks upon the public services OF
Hamilton in WAshngtou's administration, and su6se-
quen:Iy. He spoke freely Of Aaron Burr against
whose aspirations for the Presidency, Hamilton threw
himself with all his resources. In this contest he
openly and boldly preferred the selection Of Jefferson
The speaker desired TO pay tribute OF reverence and
respect To the memory OF Jefferson, whom he styled
'the father and founder Of the Democratic party, Of
which he was "an humble member" Omitting thi-,
in the necessity of hurrying TO conclusion OF his
performances Mr.. Wood passed 10 the consideration
Of the difficulty between Hamilton and Barr, which
resulted in n duel and the denth of the former. All
the circumstances Of this affair were detailed with
minu.eness the speaker exhibiting the original
coroner't inquest, wherein WIS rendered verdict OF
wtu murder against Aaron Burr, Vice President of
III. United States. The feeling ofindgnaton against
Burr WAS intense. He became a wanderer and al
outca.t while sensation OF gref pervaded the pub
lie mind for the loss of Hamilton.
Mr.. Wood concluded his address as follows:
"And now, in drawing to a close this feeble but
sincere tribute 10 the memory ot Hamilton, let me
say that do not wish tO be understood as endorsing
every public act he performed, or every opinion he
may have advanced. lie held opinions in regard to
n National Bank tenure of office, and other measures
of governmental policy TO which l never can SUP
scribe. He may have entertained views nor strictly
in keeping with the geuerally conceived notions ot
our day. but these We're but spots upon the snn not
to be observed amidst the surrounding splendor OF
his glorious character and services Let III do MIN JUS
tice! and secure his memory from the common error
fear too generally existing in the superficial public
mind that he mUnarchist IN principle and an
aristocrat in feeling. Such was not Alexander llan-
ton; and to attribute sentiments 10 him hostile 10 re-
publican institutions, for which he had suffered aud
accomplished much. is To unjusty darken the
bright Of one of the master-sprits OF the kevo-
luton. II is to cast reproach upon the principles
and loyalty of Washington himself, who knew him
best and loved him most
"Wel may Virginia watch over the ashes OF wash
ington, now lying entombed at Mount Vernon; 50
will New York guard the ashes Of Hamilton, reposlng
in Trinity Church-yard Though separated in the
tomb their fame ia the common property OF the coun'
try. May the recollection of their deeds endure AZ
long As tine and their go forth into the dark
and shadowy future associated together in history, as
they were in the service of their country
The Blues celebration on Friday asketch Of which
we publish from the Dispatch, one OF the mos,
agreeable reunions we ever attended genial spirit
universally prevailed; among the good speeches
made on the occasion, We can particularly refer to
that of D. E. Sckles Esq, of New York, which was
marked by excellent taste, fine taont and catholic
spirit. Mr.. Sickes is one of the four Democratic
of the New York Senate and his sojourn in
Richmond has made him many kind friends.