The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-22
WHO WROTE WASHINGTON'S FAREW ELL
ADDRESS?

United States as traced in the writings of Alavan
der Hamilton and his contemporaries has led TO =
renewed discussion of the claims ofWashincton and
! Hamilton to the credit of the composition Of tho
Farewell Address. We have not vet seen this vol
ume, and are, therefore, not able to determine unon
the weight of the testimony, if there be anv not
heretofore before the public, upon which Mr.. Ham
llton rests the pretenson he is understood to sat
up, that his father was in all essential respects tbe
real author of the Address
Although 1t SNOW, perhaps, for the first time con-
tended as 1t were, the part of Gen Hamilton that
ne had any other participation in the Address, than
Ill many othef papers OF Washington which were
prepared by nm under the direction of his official
SUPERIOR or as an adviser and friend vet our readers
will all recoect that the subject has heretofore boon
before lhe puohc without receiving any positive or
satisfactory solution. 1t NAV therefore not he in
appropriate on this day, which, wherever the name
of Washington is known, is regarded as the ami
versary of one of the most important events of mod
ern times to set before the public some of those
proofs which not only to show that the address
was, in form, legacy of wisdom and warning to his
countrymen by its august putative author but that
in fact, it was conceived by his own mind and writ
ten by his own hand. The first intimation that
the public ever had of any adverse claim to it. we
believe, arose from the discovery amongst Gen Ham
lltons papers of copy of the address in his Ham
ilton's) hand writing.
In March, 1911, Judge Richard Peters communi-
Gated the discovery to Mr.. Jay who on the Goth of
the same month, made reply, from which we make
the following selections:
Your letter conveyed to me the first and only in
formation have received, that copy of President
W Washington's valedictorv address had been found
among the papers OF General Hamilton, and in his
| handwriting; and that certain gentleman had also
copy OF it in the same handwriting
This intelligence is unpleasant and uneypectad
Ilad the address been one of those otfciaI papers
which, IN the course of affairs the secretary of the
/ proper department might have prepared and the
president have signed these facts would have been
/ unlmportant; but it personal act-of choice
not OF official duty-and it was so connected with
other obvious considerations, as that he only could
with propretv write it. In my opinion President
/ aShmgton must have been sensible of this nronri
ETY., and therefore strong evidence would be ncces-
sary to make me believe that he violated it, Whetb
St lie olu or ana not, Is question which naturally
ufects our attention to whatever affords presump-
1--WE evidence respecting it; and leads the mind into
long train OF correspondent reflections | will
give you summary of those which have occurred
TO me- not because think them necessary to eattla
the point IN question: for the sequel will show that
they are not, but because the occasion invites me o
take the pleasure of reviewing and bearing testimo-
ny to the merits of our departed friend
Is it to be presumed from these facts that General
Hamilton was the reoI and the President only tbe
rep"ted author of that address? Although they
countenance such presumption, vet | think lis
foundation will be found too slight and shallow io
/ resist that strong and fail stream of couutar owl
dence which flows from the conduct and character
of that great man. A character not blown up into
transient splendor by the breath of adulatiOn but
being composed of his great and memorable deeds
stands, and will forever stand glorious monument
OF human excellence.
SO prone, however, is ''poor human nature" to
dislike and deprecate the superiority of contempo
raries that when these facts come to be GENERALLY
known land generally known they will be- MANY,
with affected regret and hesitation will infer and
hint, that Washington had less greatness of talent
and less greatness of mind, than his friends and adj
mirers aScribed to him. Nor will the number of
those be few, who, from personal party induce
ments, VIII artiully encourage and diligently en-
deavor to give currency to such imputations
On the other hand, there men of candor and
Judgment (and time will increase their number)
who, aiming only at truth, will cheerfuIly trace and
follow It's footsteps and on finding, gladly embrace
1t. Urged by this laudable motive thev will atten-
lively examine the history of his life and in it thev
will meet with such numerous proofs of his knowi-
edge ana experience of men and things in general
ana OF our national affairs in particular. to silence
all doubts OF his ability to conceive and express
cry idea in that address. careful perusa of that
history will convince them, that the principles of
policy which it recommends as rules for the conduct
OF other, are precisely those by which he regulated
his own.
but IL would not surprise me, if certain classical
gentlemen, assoclating the facts you mention with
the style and fashion of the address should intimate
that his ability to compose it substantially in his
mind, does not prove that he was also CAPABLE of
communicating his advice in paper well written
Let those gentlemen recollect the classical maxim
which they learned at school:
Scribendi recte, sapere est ct principm ct fons''
They may also be referred to another classical max
i'm, which teaches us that they who well understand
their subject, will be at no loss for words:
- Verbaque provsam non invita- sequenturn
But his ability to write well need not be proved
by the application of maxims; it is established bv
facts. We are told to judge of a tree by its fruit:
let US, in like manner, judge of his pen by its per-
fOrmanccs.
Few men. who had so little leisure. have written
so much. His public letters alone are voluminous:
and public opinion has done justice to their merits
many OF them have been published, and they who
read them will be convinced, that at the period of
the address, he had not to learn how to write we'll
But it may be remarked that the address is higher
finished than the letters; and it ought to be-
That address was to be presented TO the whole ma
ton, and on no common occasion: it was intended
for the present and future generation it was to be
read in this country and in foreign Countries and
to be criticised not only by aectionate friends and
impartial judges, but also by envious and malignant
enemies. 1t was an address which, according as if
should or should not correspond with his exalted
character and fame, would either Justify or impeach
the prevailing opinion of his talents and wisdom.
Who, therefore, can wonder that he should bestow
than letter?
Although in the habit of depending ultimately on
his own judgment, vet man was more solicitous
to obtain and collect light on every uuestion and
measure which he had to decide He knew thai
authors like parents, not among the first to dis
imperfectons in their offspring; and that con-
sideration would naturally induce him to initiate
the example OF those ancient and modern writer's
(among whom were statesmen. generals and even
men of consular and royal dignity who submitted
their compositions to the Judgment of their friends
before they put the last hand to them Those friends
would make notes of whatever defects they observed
in the draught, and of the correspondent amend
ments which they deemed proper If thev found
that the arrangement could be improved, they would
advise certain transpositions if the connexion be-
tween any OF the relative parts obscure, they |,
would make it more apparent; if a conclusion had |
better be left to implication than expressed thev
would strike it out, and vice versa: if an addi-
tional remark or ausion would give force or light
to sentiment or proposition, they would propose /
1T; where sentence too long, they would divide /
it; they would correct redundances; change words
less apt for words more apt, DC, &c., &c. To cor
rect composition in this way, is to do friendly /
office but to prepare one and offer it to the
author as a substitute for his own would deserve |
a different appelation.
Among those to whose judgment and candor Pres
ident Washington would commit such an interesting
and delicate task where is the man to be found who
would have had the hardihood to say to him in sub
stance, though in terms ever so nice and courtlv-
Sir, have examined and considered your draught
of an address: 1t will not do it is really good for
nothing. But, sir, have taken the trouble to write
a proper one for you; and | now make you present
of it advise you to adopt it, and to pass it on the
world your own; the cheat will never be discoy-
cred, for you may depend on my secrecy. Sir. |
have inserted in it paragraph that will give the
public good opinion of your modesty: will read
it to you; it is in these words
In the discharge of this trust, | will only saw,
that have, with good intentions contributed to,
wards the organization and administration of the
government, the best exertions of which Gerry tal-
ible judgment was capable. Not unconscious in the
outset of the ieri0rity of my qualifications, expe-