New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-13
PITCS CHOATE on HAMILTON AND
BURR.
r,ou m, Ro,ton Journal March 1.

TIE concluding lecture OF the present season OF
series delivered before the Mercantile Library Asso
citation was given last evening, yesterday beng the
18th anniversary Of the institution. The Temple was
crowded long before the mo OF commencing the lee
ture large numbers of ladies and gentlemen having
beseed the doors even before the hOr oil opening tine
hal.
Tie lecturer of the evening the Hon. Rufus
Choste of our cityl and the subject chosen as the
theme Of bis effort examination into and dis.
uuisitoa upon, the lives of those two distinguished
Americans of the past observation-disclosures Hamii-
Jon ana Aaron Burr. -, go.
Tie distinguished lecturer on taking the platform
was received with hearty applause, which was con-
tinued for some moments In commencing ms re-
marks he proceeded al the outset by an eloquent
tribute 70 the memory OF the Father OF our Country
ssying that in all his life had he done noble
deed which earned him fame greater than in thsthat
In all his great life he never followed, never led anu
never acted with, party. He was our FATHER. All
history. al tradition hand him down to us by tins
title OF endearmentOur whole country was tho OBJECT
of his socitude, and anything sss in magnitude tnan
all th as beneath his pure, patriotic and noble heart
Noble Ia life happy III DEATH his deeds speak his
praise and at his tomb at Mount Vernon the tears OF
an entire nation were shed
A. the death of Father the age of party i'll
country began, and OF those who shOne III party
lines found the name OF Aaron Bun. lnis was a
man who first appears in public life in the army OF
i715 ana from then his course is seen. Everywhere
unsle4ping, everywhere vigant, everywhere equal to
hiuse and everywhere too much for those who stood
in his vay-and here we must stop. Nothing mere OF
him could be said that will rebound TO his credit. In
public civil life accidentally eievsted-never acting
with the Federalists though never asserting him.
self Republican, elected to the Senate by some
unknown means, from the State o. New l0rk
and from thence to the Nice-Presidency, and then
in an evil hour the competitor ot Jefferson
in q contest for the Presidency. From this time 10
all good things We do not see his hands lie
Wa among in stirring times, he moved IN hours
when our rights and liberties were discussed and set
tied and in oil this the name hand of Aaron Burr
does not appear. From 1889 to 1901, as statesman
We near L more of him; politician We see enough
of him. but for any trace OF patriotism IN AL ms acts
look in vain. Restless and active, vigorous and
determined with splendid address, he was everywhere
active for himself always torpid for his country
Himself, and but hmreli and his own interests, was
his GOO ard that alone he worshiped. Crossed In his
path he spared no in his wrath-thwarted IN his
designs he left nothing fair or foul unturned to accom-
plsh his end, sparng no man IN his seshneSS, anu no
woman IN his lusts. This is the impotent conclusion
of lite which might have been tuned to every grace
and used Tor every advantage OF his country.
Such was q small sketch OF his character; but to
define closely, the speaker said he should take
the mO-t obvious method of contrasting him with
auOtaer of the age and time. But where to find
rs contrast the difficulty. Where he was selfish,
there were enough who were patriotic, where he
cold there plenty whose warm iSarts beat solely
for the common veal but ~ lind his exact counter
part vas difficult indeed
In looking among the great names of the day, it APP
peared that the name Of Hamilton suggested him
whose life briefly told, might show the greatest con-
trast To his great and to his great life it was
pleasant TO turn after such pain as one must iee alter
view of the life OF Burr. And in regarding the life
OF this d,uguished citizen, the speaker was sure his
hearers they scanned the pages of the history OF
our easiy days, must be almost overwhelmed with the
Geesiy OF talent which every recorded event displays
Wellington and Adams Jefferson Franklin, Han
cock, eITen, Mason and Hsmilton, all in age,
AZ IN one DAY and generation, and whose hlsto-
rles were each recorded testimonies of the pa
tnotsm, ana the same devotion to national life
and glory The elOquonce Of some the craftsmanship
ot other the vaOr and military skill OF still more
and ags.n those IN whom all these blended all were
devoted 20 our Couutry-uOthng was reserved for
seI There was splendid collection of splendid tai
ebt SUCH a. the world never saw. There was that de.
voted patriotism, never eNcced, and the great monu
meut of Oh, the lasting memcnto Of al their virtues
is ,ti,. their graves in the magnh cent column
mere lasting THAI bronze or marble-;he Declaration
OF InCependcnce--l Applause Ia column gazed upon
By Us b., 10 July of every year, and monument
which speaks their Glory filter terms than
craven on stone, anu which una their PToPcL ana a-
propr.s'e tablet on every true American heart;
Ate tie Declaration OF Independence, Hamilton
and Jefferson first Differed then grew divergent, and
finally eIeuated altogether. That great Democrat,
after achieving that mighty paper, retired 10 MS
tsin and took no part in all the years OF inc ~at
OF that time. At the opening OF peace he was seen
III the Congress of his country and there became the
tather Of American Democracy. Different was II with
hanI' on. Seen IN all the war, present at cambridge
ana az we surrender at Yorktown, he was familiar ny
hear WITH al The war At the age OF - he returned
to Ne" iork TO practice his profession of the law and
mere Wa the Character OF the later Hamilton devel-
oped. he years before were the wears of passion,
ard che acters formed in them were necessarily
deut sAd hasty. War had not then BEGUN, and men
SPOKE pSssiona;ely OF is glorcs, but knew not Of
itS horcrs, and had not had their passions Gained
b. as swful realities. A, it, close those who
began il in youth were now middle AGED and a new
e.s began with them and with the country From
out o. the army came Alexander Hamilton and began
the lie Of statesman. Men called him a monarc6l,t
and ore-power man, and he so, and no wonder
that be was Had he not seen the impotency of the
Cd Philadelphia Congress! Had he not how the
own oman p0wer-how the deierepco and obedience
Rad u ose mas-hal carried Tho army over al dill