Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-20

Burr and Hamilton.

The Hon Rufus Choate delivered lecture
90 Thursday evening last, before the Mercan-
tile Library Association of Boston. The
subject ct his discourse was Hamilton and
Burr" A very large audience was in a.
tendance, comprising many OF the most dis
,inguished uen in Massachusetts,. The Bos-
ton Courier contains a concise and very salts
factory synopsis Of this great GRAFTON. We
extract the following:
The lecturer proceeded to speak OF the life
of Aaron Burr, representing II as having be-
gun and ended with his services in the army,
which ne entered in It's and left 10 lII9 -
In those four years he rose To the command
Of Il regiment, and IN one capacity or another
fought IN Massachusetts, In Canada, IN Con-
nectlcut, in New York, aud 10 New Jersey.
Everywhere be was equally himself. Every
where he was more than a match for the
force of foes. EVerywhere he was uusleep-
ing. skiltul and brave, and this is all that
must remain. That life so prolonged, so
selfish. 80 active, 50 thriving with the heated
fevOr Of egotism. to these dimensions must
come at last. His unsuccessful struggle In
politics and the duel with Hamilton COM
pIeted bis ruin; as public man he IS heard
of no more.
He may have loved his dau ghter, and kept
some friendships, but be had no regard for
the spirit OF humanity, or for any solemn
piausiblity of lille. He spared neither man
in his anger, nor woman in his lust. nor the
Union in bis ambition. Stat nOJstHtS umG1a.
Let u observe him no longer ami pass on.
The life of Hamilton was brilliant, sp!en-
did, great, ADD melancholy, beginning when
he addressed the paople of New York 10 the
great fields of l774, aud ending when
Federalism went down as q national party
for toe first and last time in 1901.
In his services in the field Vt war, IN pre-
pairing the intellect of America for separa-
ton from + ngiaud, in forming aud admins
terlng our own government, and IN then
descending to the capacity Ola private citizen,
he has been everywhere regarded rs the
foremost of our great men. All the lessons
Of war he knew by heart, having learnt them
in the military family Of Washington.
Slr. Choate denied that Hamilton was an
aristocrat, or monarchist; and yet be
asked if there vas not much In his services
in the war to make him 50? These things
teach us how transient is fame. How mighty
is sometimes the name OF virtue: how seldom
does mere duty reward itself. How often the
the cry Of "ilossannah" to-day, is followed
by rne shrek cruelty him" to morrow.
II .mItou's abors as the editor Of the
Federalist, and the remarkable precooious.
ness Of his intel!ect were spoken OF. lie
began to speak at the age Of eighteen, and
at that age was among the ablest Of our
writers in the great controversy with Eng
land. At twenty-iour he wrote that master
ly letter to Duane, anticipating the provisions
OF the Constitution. At thirty-two he wrote
for the Federalisi, and at thirty eight be
ceased to be public man. Saving Paschal,
Cn. ar and Napoleon, it is doubtful il vaster
or purer powers have uecn exhibited by man.
With the exception Of political opponents and
political competitors, Hamilton had no
enemies. No man knew him but to love him.