New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-12-30

These considerations have lnnuenceo my Paee c"h'
duct respecting him, and will influence my future.
I think it necessary he should be supported. His
estimation in your mind, whstever may De its
amount, am persuaded has been formed on
principles which circumstance Like this cannot
materially affect"
If 30 late as 1871, Hamilton could thus place
his support of Washington less on his merits than
on the force Of circumstances and the weakness
and unworthiness Of his competitors it will not do
IN act down. az our author seems too inclined to do,
every criticism upon the army and the Commander
in.Chef to be found in private letters to i-temper
and a malicious disposition In private CORE
spondence. a certain license and freedom must be
expected and allowed. The same liberty which
the General. or at least the members OF his staff
took with Congress, Members Of Congress must
he expected 10 take with the Commander-n.Chief
and the army. Take, for instance, the following
letter of Hamilton to Gov. Clinton, OF FEB. I3'
l77a. Can he be allowed to speak so freely OF
Congress and its Members without eonceding an
equal liberty to the other side
There ia q matter which often obtrudes itself upon
nv mind and which requires the anentlon OF every
person of sense and influence among US; L mean
degeneracy of representation in the great counc OF
America 1t ia melancholy truth, Sir, the effects OF
which we daily see and feel that there Is not so much
wisdom in certain body as there ought 10 DC, ana
the success of our affairs absolutely de nands. many
members of IL are no doubt men in every respect nj
for the trust; but this cannot be said OF as body
Foly caprice want Of foresight, comprehension ana
dignity characterize the general tenor
OF this dare say, you are sensible though you a'9
not perhaps many opportunities OF knowing IL as
have Their conduct with respect to the army espe'
caly is tickle indecisive and improvdent; insomuch
that we are reduced to more terrible situation than
Won can conceive. False and contracted views Oh
economy have prevented them, though repeatedly
urged to it. from making that provision for officers
which was requisite to interest them IN the service
This has produced such careessness And indnerence
TO the service as ia subverslve OF every oncer-ks
onality. They have disguised the army by repeated
instances of the most whimsical favoritsm in their
promotions; and by an absurd prodigahy OF rank To
foreigners and to the meanes stuff of the army Ihey
have not been able to summon resolution enough 10
withstand the impudent importantly ana VAN 1oasIns
of foreign pretendcrs but have manifested such due
tity and nConsancy in their proceedings, az war
rant the charge of suffering themselves to be pulled
by every petty ADVENTURE who comes armed WIN o.
tcntatous precnsons of military merit and experience
Would YOU believe it, Sir? it is become almost pro-
verbal in the mouths Of the French officers and other
foreigners that they have nothing more TO DO 10 OBJ
tain whatever they please than to assume tone,
and assert their own merit with commence anu p s,sb
hcan more than 1 can express ana In some uegreo
make me contemplate in my own eyes.
America once had representation that would 60
honor to any age nation. The present falling Oft is
very alarming and dangerous. What is the cause, and
how is il 10 be remeded? questions that the wei
fare Of these States requires should be well atendedto
In the presentation which he makes of the per.
sonal and sectional feuds, and the different ideas of
policy which prevailed in the early years of the
Revolutionary war, Mr.. Hamilton plays rather the
part of an advocate than of judge. He makes
little or no attempt TO conceal his own feelings of
partisanship. In general, however, he treats with
decent respect those whose share in the Revolu-
ton have given them fixed place in the public
esteem. In the case of John Adams, we are sorry
to notice departure from this policy. He is pur.
sued in manner so marked, that it can hardly fail
to defeat, in a great degree, the writer's object.
Thus, among other things, his absence from Con-
gress during the retreat through the Jerseys, is
represented as desertion of duty as piece pol
troonery; as though he had run of for fear of the
British. IfsO, Brantree was but poor place to
run to. While marching on Philadelphia, Howe
sent an army and feet from New.YOrk, which oc.
cupied Narraganset Bay, distance by land of not
more than thirty miles from Adams's house. In
going back to Massachusetts, Adams only threw
himself into the focus of the rebellion. Few men
ever underwent more rigorous political scrutiny
than John Adams; and, had there been the slight.
est ground for the insnuations now for the first
time urged against him, we should most likely
have heard of it during his lifetime. Whatever
might have been John Adamss faults or falmgs,
ri caS apl,,, 81 H.
One of the most curious and remarkable letters
in this volume is one written by Hamilton for the
purpose of introducing to Jay, then President of
Congress, the younger Laurens, and project he
had of enlisting brigade Of negroes. AS the
letter expresses Hamilton's opinions on some points
which still continue to be discussed, we give it at
length:
Colonel Laurens, who will have the honor of de-
liyeriDg you this letter. is on his way to South Caro-
lina project which, think, in the present stua-
ton Of affairs there is very good one, ana deserves
every kind Of support and encouragement. This ls,
TO raise two three four battalions OF negroes with
the assistance of the Government OF that state by
contributions from the owaers, in proportion to the
number they possess II you should think proper TO
enter upon the subject with him, he will give you
detail of his plan He wishes to have il recommended
by Congress to the State and AZ an inducement, that
they would engage to take their bataons into cont.
mental pay.
1t appears to me that an expedent of this kind III
the present state of Southern affairs is the most ra-
tioual that can be adopted and promises very import
ant advantages Indeed, hardly see how sufficient
force be collected in that quarter without it and
the enemys operations there are growing infinitely
serious and formidable. have not the least doubt
that the negroes will make very excellent soldiers,
with proper management, and will venture to pro-
that they cannot be put in better hands than
those of Mr. Laurens. He has all the ZEAL intelli-
gence and enterprise, and every other qualification