Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-05-12
HAMILTON AND BURR.
BIZ RUFUS CHoATE.

B1 hOtCS IIioAiE.
In commencing his remarks, the distinguish
ed lecturer proceeded at the outset by an elo-
qucnt tribute to the memory of the Father of
our country, saying that in all his life never
had he done 4 noble deed which earned him
fame greater than in this-that in all his great
life he never followed, never led, and never
acted with, party. He was our FATHER. All
history all tradition, hand him down TO us by
this title of cndearment-our whole country
was the object of his solictude, and anything
less in magnitude than all this was beneath
his pure, patriotic ard noble heart. Noble
in life, happy in death, his deeds speak his
praise, and at his tomb at Mount Vernon the
tears of an entire nation were shed.
At the death of this our Father, the age of
party in our country began, and of those who
shone in party lines found the name of
Aaron Burr. This was man who first ap
pears in public life in the army of l775, and
from then his course is seen. Every
where unsleeping, everywhere vigiant, every
where equal to himself and everywhere too
much for those who stood in his way-and
here we must stop. Nothing more of him
could be said that viii rebound to his credit.
In public civil life accidentally elevated
never acting with the Fcderalsts, though new
or asserting himself a Republican, elected to
the Senate by some unknown means, from the
State of New York, and from thence to the
Vice-Presidency, and then in an evil hour the
competitor of Jefferson in a contest for the
Presidency. From this time in all good things
we do not see his hands. He was among US
in stirring times, he moved in hours when our
rights and liberties were discussed and settled,
and in all this the name or hand Of Aaron Burr
does not appear. From 1889 to 1901, as a
statesman we hear no more of him as poll
ticiun we see enough of him, but for any trace
of patriotism in all his acts we look in vain.
Restless and active, vigorous and determined,
with splendid address, he was everywhere ac-
tive for himself, always torpid for his country.
Himself, and but himself and his own inter
ests, was his god, and that alone ne worship
ed. Crossed in his path he spared no man
in his wrath-thwarted in his designs, he left
nothing fair or foul unturncd to accomplish
his end, sparing man in his seIfshness, and
no woman in his lusts. This is the impotent
conclusion of life which might have beer
turned TO every grace, and used for every adj
vantage of his country.
Such was a small sketch of his character
but to define it more closely, the speake
said he should take the most obvious meth
cd cf constrasting him with another of th'
same age and time. But where to find hi
contrast was the difficulty. When he wa
selfish, there were enough who were patriotic
1 IL -HpbpS
warm hearts beat solely for the common veal
but to find his exact counterpart was Difficult
indeed.
In looking among the great names of th'
day, it appeared that the name of Hamilton
suggested him whose life, briefly told, nigh
show the greatest contrast. To his great
name and to his great life it was pleasan
to turn, after such pain as one must feel af
ter view of the life of Burr. And in regar
ding the life of this distinguished citizen, tn
speaker was sure his hearers, they scannei
the pages Of the history OF our early days
must be almost overwhelmed with the maJes
ty of talent which every recorded event dis
DIavs-WashingtOn and Adams, Jefferson
Franklin, Hancock, Warren, Mason and Ham
jlton. all in one age, all in one day and gener
alton. and men whose histories were each re
corded testimonies of the same patriotism
and the same devotion to our national life ant
glory. The eloquence of some, the states
manship of others, the valor and military ski
of still more ; and again, those in whom a
these blended, all were devoted to our coun
try-nothing was reserved for self. liner
was splendid collection of spiended taleH
such as the world never saw. There was tha
devoted patriotism, never excelled, ana th
great monument of all, the lasting memeht
of all their virtues, is still over their grave
in the magnificent column-more lastin
than bronze or marble-the Declaration {
Observation-Disclosures column gaze
upon by us all in July of every year, and
monument which speaks their glory in fittC
terms than were ever craven on stone, an
which find their proper and appropriate tal
let on every true American heart.