The Washington union., 1858-02-23
WASHINGTON AND HAMILTON

The recurrence Of the 22d of February is a fit oc-
casion to refer to recent publication upon the life
Of Alexander Hamilton, who was the immediate
associate and friend of Washington in the field and
in the cabinet during nearly the entire period Of tho
revolution and after up to the close of the last cen
iury The work to which allude prefers claim
TO much of the fame which the world has accorded
to Washington rightly due TO the justly distin-
guished statesman and economist, Colonel Hamilton
We have no idea that it is within the power of any
man to disturb the public Judgment concerning the
character Of Washington. The fame of the latter
hardly be said to be individual national; nor
are its enures fixed in historical records or anything
which apperians to the government he aided SO es-
scntally to bring into existence
la this view, it appears TO us, such efforts as
Mr. Hamilton has made TO divide the honors and dis
tinciions which have been awarded TO Washington
in connexon with the origin and conduct Of the war
and the orgination and administration of the govern
ment established, fail in everything else than to
nish the fame of the person, if possible they were
intended to celebrate.
There is mystic record Of an ancient kingdom.
which tells that Of its phiosophie sovereigns,
successors constructed vault in one of the monu-
ments of his capital and caused. it to be reported
that priceless treasure concealed within It's
walls which was only to be appropriated in event
of overwhelming necessity. One Of his imperial
successors, anticipated, whose cupidity con-
trollcd his actions thought il good time break
the doors which shut ont the prize, and appropriate
it to his mercenary He found the jewel
10 consist Of this simple admonition engraved upon
the tablet: !" If thou had'enst an Unsuitable thirst
after money and most sor,lid avarcious soul, thou
woui' ST never have disturbed the monuments Of the
dead
We are not at all clear that between the motives
Of The mercenary monarch and those which animate
the work alluded TO- there may not be found no
tieeabie resemblance. Be this il may we feel
satisfied that Mr. Hamilton, who has disturbed not
only the monuments of the dead, but living couvc
tons which are not less inperishable- le--which have
been recorded in history and viii survive in tradi-
ton throughout all time--wiIl meet with reward
scarcely more TO his liking than that which crowned
the labors Of his prototype.
We all know that period of universal interest
aud exitemcn,, like the American revolution, pro
duccs species OF electric sympathy which per
vades and mites the whole community.
This union extends much further than TO mere po-
itcal social organization-it is a union of mind
in which the individual, TO great extent, is merged
in the State. Energy activity, and disu-rcstedncss
are impressed upon every event of life. Perception
is awakened; the intellect quckened and nvigcrafed;
the community, If we may express il, is animated
by living spirit a soul vitality, force, which
conld ouly be impaired to il by the collective wis
dom and patriotism Of the whole people. II is some
thing worse than folly to attempt TO extract from
such crisis as the American revolution material by
which to build up one individual at the expense Of
another TO reverse that public Judgment which has
been recorded for more than threequart~rs Of
tury, and which is known felt and appreciated far
more in the heart than in the head History claims
no exclusive charge Of the individuals and the events