The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-03-22


sharp controversy on the subject in many of the
reviews, and the author of the biography has been
severely ridicued and censured. In our own notice
3I TI the work we expressed the opinion that Mr..
Hamilton had detracted from the reputation of
others In order to augment the fame of his illus
trlous father. 1t is therefore, but fair that he
should be permitted to be heard in his defence, and
we cheertuly give room to an advance COPY of the
vindicatory preface to his second volume now in
press by the Appetons:
The first volume of this work has been criticised
with some severity, as making claims for Hamilton
which are derogatory to the character of Washino-
ton My course has been stgmatized as sacrilegious
! and neutrality-suspicious. toward Washington
| ylndictive toward others. When it can be shown
that the exhibition OF the truth to others, is ir-
relevant to the history of this country or not de-
manded by justice, good government, and the inter
ests OF the American people, then the latter charge
may be deemed to have some color.
Sacrilege, detraction defamation. are the terms
that have been used to crminate my claim of au-
thorshlp for Hamilton, of letters subscribed bv
Washington. in the course of his military command
! conhne this notice to so much regards Washing
| ton.
As there may be more of this sort of sacrilege in
the present volume-and it may be. in the succeed
ing Volumes think it not amss to saw that as it
! was not within the physical power of Washington
time and his public employments alone considered
to compose dictate the innumerable letters signed
by him, it conforms with what is natural and com
mon IN such cases, to suppose that other persons
must have been frequently deputed to relieve him
from portion of the labor of his correspondence
There is sacrilege in the suppostion. And since
existing records show irrefragaby that vast num-
Der of letters in the handwriting of Hamilton, and
with the signature of Washington, bear those char
acters OF style which identify authorship as much
as the features and expression of the face and the
play and movement of the body identify the indi-
vldual man, and that in this manner these letters
identify the authorship of Hamilton beyond rea-
sonable doubt, there can be no sacrilege, the
least shade of defamation, disrespect, in ascrib
ing them to Hamilton their real author in point
OF composition. The letters so ascribed NAV have
just so much merit, in this respect, the reader
may think fit to allow them; but the authorship has,
in this way, become ncontestabe: and this fact in
a biography of Hamilton, connecting him with the
progress of the Revolution, and the foundation of
this republic have deemed it duty. both person.
al and historical, to state, whenever have referred
to them
If Washington had written life of Hamilton he
would probably have done the same thing. Surely
when Washington himself has thought it proper to
state with some formaty, to the President of the
Congress of the Confederation, that his letters from
headquarters were ''frst drdwn by his secretary
and by his aides decamp, it cannot in the least de
gree reflect upon him to indicate, by internal and
other evidence the particular secretary and aide BY
whom some of them were draIrn. The rebuke which
have received on this account, does, in effect in
volve reflection upon Washington and a very dis
respectful one too-for it implies that somewhere
or somehow, Washington has claimed, as his own
the composition of these letters-a thing quite i'm
possible to his nature, and openly repugnant to his
statement before referred to. He disclamed this
class of letters generally being of his authorship
or composition, and have but supported the dis
caimer by atributing part of them, upon undenia-
Bile evidence, to Hamilton.
As to the detraction from the merits of Washing
ton, will not condescend to disprove charge so
grOundless as this. hope that the hearts of those
who have suggested it against me, as free as my
own from any purpose of detraction, and free as
my pages are from any evidence of it, express or
implied, in regard to this eminent man. Express
detracon, in word syllable, is not alleged against
me- and cannot be. If it is implied on my part
from the simple ascrption to another of the author
ship of certain letters which the signature
of Washington, how much more is it to be implied
on the part of these accusers, by the assumption
necessarily involved in the charge against me, that
his great name depends in any degree, upon the
mere authorship of any thing that he ever put his
name to.
This is detraction from Washington-to assert
that any portion of his glory is derived from the
style composition of his public letters papers,
1t would be real detractiOn from his exalted mer-
it's to say to think, that by assigning to others
the composition of every paper that he wrote, the
great volume Of his glory would be diminished, or
impaired, in any measurable degree. His glory is
not derived, in whole i'll part, from such
1t is the result of his unmpeachable vrtue-his
grave wisdOm-his ever watchful circumspection-
his infe1ble constancy in maintaining the right, the
true, the honorable, in all things-his iustce-his
fortitude-his mperturbable courage-his dauntess
bravery in battle-hs military providence and en-
ergv-his unsparing self sacrfce-his devotion of
heart and SOUL of life, fame, sacred honOr-of his
entire SELF of all he had and all he was to the cause
of freedom and of his country. And in connection
with the present subject, may appropriately add
to this cluster of noble qualities his modesty which
never claimed anything as his own that was not
such by universal consent; and his elevation of SOUL
which made him superior to the rivalry and envy of
competitors regardless of their jealousy, and indif
ferent to their intrigues
His glory flows, and will forever flow, from these
sources. His letters add only this contribution to
his fame, that they manifest, by their intent and
purpose, the operation Of one more of his great
attributes or the aspirations of his settled and
tablished dispositions Their composition was ne
cessarily not always his own, which often and gen
orally happens with commanders on a large field of
operations, and with those who are engrossed with
the highest concerns of civil administration and
when it was his own, its merit was rather in the
enuncaton,o just thoughts and wise purposes, than
in the skill or force with which he exhibited and
impressed them.
Others, before this day, have expressed their
opinions in regard to the public letters of Wash
ington. He acquired, by much practice in episto-
larry writing, style that was as much his own
his handwriting, and distinguishable, at first
sight, by those who had any familiarity with it.
though it may be recognized more readily than it
can be described. 1t was not constructed by rules
of art, nor had it as much ease it had dignity;
but it the style of gentleman, and COM
monty very perspicuOus. 1t has, however, become
historical fact, that in a large number of his i'm
portant public letters and papers, an entirely diff
ferent style is shown, and yet, unaffected his
own style, but generally more lettered, scholar
like.
In respect to these, the design may be properly
attributed to himself, and perhaps all of them may
be regarded as having been revised, and sometimes
altered by him to satisfy his own Judgment; but
much of the filling in, the drapery, the cooring,
the light and shade and the accessory parts brought
in to heighten and relieve the principal and more
important, may be safely attributed to others who
were in his personal confidence and were deputed,
officially or otherwise, to the performance of the
duty. Such supposition is in no degree disrespect
full to him. and is in perfect harmony with his whole
character. He was as free from vanity and self
conceit from his youth upward, as any that
ever lived; and sought assistance, when he wanted
it, without the least alarm to his self-love.
| must refer to one distinguished person as wit
ness in this matter the late Timothy Pickering, be
cause he has left behind him record of his opinions
founded on personal knowledge and intimacy, dur
ing the Revolutionary war and afterward.
Col. Pickering, appointed by Washington, in May
seventy-seven, adjHtant General, alter being inter
mediatev selected Commissioner to superintend
the staff of the army, was chosen member of the
Board of War, in which place he continued until
eighty when he elected by the unanimous vote
of Congress, Quarter Master General This arduous
office he filled until after the peace.
In ninety, he appointed by Washington sole
Commissioner to treat with the Northern Indians;
and in ninety-one, Post Master General. After
serving as a Commissioner to treat with the West
ern Indians he was again selected as Post Master
General, and from that office was advanced to the
place of Secretary of War. From this station he
was preferred by Washington to be Secretary of
State and remained until the year eighteen hun
dred at the head of that department
This faithful, much honored public servant, aud-
ing to the observations of an intelligent foreigner
remarks:
'In forming his Judgment of Washington's writ
ings, he had not the necessary data. He has
sumed, which is unfounded in fact, that the public
papers bearing Washngton's signature land of his
private writings he could have seen very few are
of his own composition. undertake to affirm, that
scarcely any, a very small number of them, were
draughted by him; and in the most important, the
hand of Hamilton, | think. may be discerned
while Hamilton within his reach. | formed
this opinion as long ago the campaign of seven
teen hundred and seventy-seven, when witnessed
the incessant labors of Hamilton and of the militia
ry Secretary-Harrison-in writing the Generals
public letters, in which have reason to believe,