Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-01
For the Enquirer.
LIFE OF ALEXANDER HAMiLTON-BY HIS
SDN

SoN
We should look upon this work with much charity;
for the "son," Mr.. Hamilton, naturally loves his ia
theirs memory, and il is but natural that he should
believe him one Of the greatest Of men. IL would be
antagOnistic 10 natural affection for a son not 10 view
the acts OF his father with partially. So il is with
Mr.. John T.. Hamilton; vut he has gone beyond the
bounds of that feeling which should exist; he has
studied his fathers history Until it has become II INA.
MIA with him, and, in this distempered state OF mind.
he wishes 10 rob Washington and others of thsir just
deseris. ssy, wishes to rob; probably ! 90 too tar
for / verify believe Mr. Hamilton thinks himself Gil
honest man. lie ia not capsule of controlling hs
judgment, therefore not capable OF performing the
work which he has attempted. Few men aa capable
OF writing 8 correct biography OF q relative or friend.
II is human nature to be lraiI and imperfect, and but
few Of liz have judgments that cannot be- warped. We
wish until we believe aud when we believe, we cGa.
not listen 10 arguments AT variance with Our belief
Such is man, and, To so.ie extent, We should bear with
his imp riections.
Mr. Hamilton has given u Il vuluminous WORK,
pregnant with much interesting and valuable instter,
written iu II diguiied, though uninteresting style.-
itis chief object serms 10 b. 10 show 10 the world
that Hamilton is entitled To- nearly al! the credit fr
Wa.hington's writings. He states that the archives
ut the Government have been UpeIed 10 him, and
that he has found NOR. than u thousand autograph
letters written by Alexander Hamilton in behalf TT
Washington. Hamilton VIA a member of Washing
toms staff, during most Of the revolution, and | think
it quite likely thar he wrote many letters for the
Commander in Chief; but why should Mr.. Hamilton
lug this into nearly every page Of Il kind OF history
he gives of the war. a common expression with
him ia: "A letter WAS written by Hamilton for Wash
ington." Does Mr. Hamilton think that Washington
was wanting in capacity, or does he think that his ta.
Their deserves credit for writing that which was die
,atrd! Washington had ss much tn do n m active
brain could attend 10, during iht protracted contest,
without firing hs mind with letters aud dispatched
DoubtIesa many o! them were written by those IN
whom he Ind confidence mostly, it is said, by liar
rlson ana iiamii;oD; the most OF them dictated snd
examined by Washington. But the author states thar
Hamilton wrote his Farewell Address. But i; ie
stated upon better authority that the original manu-
script is still in existence, in the hand writing Of
Waslingten. Who, then, wrote tine thousand lstler.!
Mr.. Hamilton in the outset Of his work sells forth
hs purpose thus: AS the frs. idea Of real union oi
the people Of the United States ia sscribed to Alex.
auder Hamilton, aud "a he had 4 large share in
moulding their destines, it 10 proposed to trace III hi.
life and writings the history of the origin and eariy
policy OF this Great Republic" In thi. We can see
10 objection. Hamilton was the first To propose q
stronger Government, and he Certainly had q large
share" III building our Constitution. lie regarded the
Old Confederation ~ Impotent for permanent 90
Notwithstanding that would crumble in the
bosom OF peace, aud required foreign difficulties 10
hold ii together; he WAS in favor of a stronger CO..
vernment than The one which now exisis, and had
he hsd the "nonlGing' Of our Constitution he
would have destroyed State Rights by Consolidation;
that was his purpose. He Was in no part a Demo.
crst; be loved that liberty which the British people
love; h6 IOVtQ d Strong, Out not d6sp0tic govern
ment. For this We cannot censure him. He lived at
Q time when there was great want of executive
poYer, and he saw and he felt it during our struggle
for independence. 1t was different with Jefferson.
Ne had not served in tbs war, but he had mingled
among the honest yeOmsnry Of the land, and he knew
their virtue and based his opinions upon their no
nesfy, whist Hamilton formed his opinions too much
from the history of the past.
The policy OF Hamilton in the Convention which
framed sur Constitution, ia well known; he wanted the
s.rOnges; government that it WIS possible 10 get; he
was active in that body, working for all the power
that he could give the Federal Government. 1t wss
the pu.est psirio'ism tiI.t prompted his exertlons. lie
did not succeed III having that Constitution framed
exactly TO suit him. but he eIerted himsrit man(ully
in causing the States to accept il. AZ proof OF this,
his mast-rly articles TO BE- found in THE Fedora
list hear full trsin:ony: three fuurihs of that ..teyt.
book being hi. own work.
His construction Of the Constitution and his poljfi
cal views have hot met with ID. approval of the
American peopla. lis F.dera.sm has. now but few
admirers, whilst JeGersonian Republicahisn has ever
kept and stl!l lives IN al i:s prosperous power.
Americans OF all parties love the memory of Ham.
ilton; M und"ub'ed patriotism, HE sterling integrity
and worth, stand ont so con-piciousiy. ~ Ia prevent
Ia from pressing any harsh Judgement upon his polifi-
ca! conduct. Such IL the feeling that Americans en-
tevtsin for Alexander Hamilton. He hss glory enough
OF his own, and MIR. Hamilton should reInelnb'r r, that
an overflow OF praise too often rebounds t. he injury
of the %eulogised. MIR. Hamilton with sl his calf skin
has not made Il good shoe. JUSTICE.
MIcKLENBuRG, May 9th, 1858.