Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-09-28


fire, could wash back on the shores of Eng
land the wrecks of her power, her wealth
and her glory. AS he spoke, his form
seemed to dilate, his voice increased in vol.
ume, his eyes flashed fire, his actions en-.
forced the powerful strength of his elo.
quence, and Alexander Hamilton from that
hour to the latest moment of his life was
self-dedicated to the service of America.
/ Immediately after this fine display Of
eloquence, he took up the pen and wrote
powerfully, though secretly, against the
literary champion of the British Govern
ment-wrote so well, too, that his pamph-
lets were attributed to Mr.. Jay. He de-
sired to be man of action also, and while
yet student, joined an artillery company
at New York, in January, l776 and speed
lily attained the rank of captain.
In the following September he took part
inthe battle of Brooklyn Heights, bringing
up the rear of the retreat, and there, as
well as subsequently, at Harlaem, attracted
the personal notice of Washington. At
the battle of Trenton he did such service
with his artillery as delayed the british,
and allowed Washington to make good his
retreat. Immediately after, Alexander
Hamilton, at the age of twenty. became
WashingtOn's aid-dc-camp and private sec
retary, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
From Trenton to York, with sword and
pen, Hamilton was the hand of the illusri-
Gus Washington. His particular personal
relations with Washington continued from
March, l777 until February 1881, when
he resigned his staff appointment, retain
ing Washington's confidence and regard,
but vainly soliciting an independent COM
mand. In 1880 he married the second
daughter of General Schuyler, of New York,
who long survived him, dying at the age
of ninety-six, in the autumn of 1854. Fl
nally, the Independence of the United
States undoubtedly won, be quilted militia
~ life in 1882. Then, determining to
enter the profession of law, Hamilton stu
died with such earnestness, industry and
powerful grasp of mind, that he was admit
ted to the bar of the Supreme Court of New
York State at the end of four months. He
became a jurist as he had become an orator.
a soldier and writer, as if by intuition.
He now took one more step, and became a
statesman.
What Hamilton accomplished in this
later ane difficult career, is now part of our
national history. His prescient mind pre-
pared the minds of other men for the forma-
tion of the Constitution, He was sent to
Congress by New York in 1882. He was
4 member of the New York Legislature in
1882. In conjunction with Madison and
Jay, (but executing nearly three-fourths the
abor,) he produced the celebrated papers
,alled The Federalists,' in which the great
principles of the Constitution were laid
lewn; and, being then a delegate to the
Convention for framing the Constitution,
imply discussed the pregnant questions of
axation and revenue, of the army and mill
la. of the power of the Executive and the
judiciary. His mind seemed stored with
applicable to every point discus
ed. He was prepared upon them all
No man had done more than Hamilton
o organize and secure the Constitution.
When Washington was called by national
ratitude to the Chief Magistracy of the
Jnion, in 1889, he appointed Hamilton to ]
he important Office of Secretary of the &
'reasury, selection strongly suggested by c
,obert Morris. the great but ill-requited i
nancier of the Revolution. Never was a {
lore proper, more suitable appointment. S
o use phrase which has lately got into t
Sc, it emphatically was ''the right man in e
ne right place Hamilton's reports upon "
ublic Credit, on the Revenue, on a Ma o
onal Bank, on Manufactures show him S
, have been finance minister of the first Y
rder,-to have warranted Daniel Webster f
saying at public dinner speech at New s.
ork, in February, 1881: "He smote the s.
'ck of the national resources, and abun- &
ant streams of revenue gushed forth, He Il
uched the dead corpse of the public cred o
and it sprung upon its feet" "
At the close of 1895 Hamilton, who 81
I'd then not completed his thirty-ninth 81
ar, retired from the public service, and f.
voted himself to the practice of the law 81
the city of New York In this he ex- ii
He'd, as he did in whatever else he had k
tempted, and he left behind him the a.
CHEST reputation as an advocate and a 81
rist. In 1898, during the Presidency 81
John Adams when a war with France az
as anticipated, Washington, in accepting b.
C chief command, expressly stipulated al
at Hamilton, his old aid-de-camp. should pl
next in rank. On Washington death, NJ
amilton succeeded him as commander-in- h;
eff On the disbanding of the army, he W
tired into private life, and was head of til
c New York bar until his death, which 70
CURED on the 18th of June, 1901, from bc
wound received on the proceeding day. in az