Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-01-27

We are indebted to the euterprsing publishers
fcr n copy Of the late work Of Mr.. CLEMENS. 1t
i, gotten up in the usual style Of excellence cha
racteristic of their publications; which, regret
70 say, lie almost the only thing for which
commend it. Mr.. CLEnExs. has not only shown
singular disregard Of the contemporary history Of
the two extraordinary men that are made the sub
jec,s Of his work. but has done gricvous injustice
70 the memory Of Hamilton.
In his preface, he admits that he entertained
from boyhood strong prejudioos against ismil
ton," and that these prejsdices nay have inhu
enced his Judgment The reader Will be able
from this declaration, u determine the competcn-
cy Of Mr.. CLkxxSs to do justice to his distinguish
ed subject and receive, for what they are WORTH
the following bald assertions The more stud
led his character, the more | became convinced
that the world nc+er presented sach n combna-
ton of greatness and Of sesnacss, of daring cou-
rage and of vile malgpity, of high aspirings and
OF low hypocrisy. Shrewd. artful, and unserupn'
lous, there were 40 means he wosld not onploy to
accomplish his ends, ne tool .eo base To be used
when its services werc needfal. Loose an his own
morals, he criticised those OF Thonas Jefferson
with severity no ether antagonist even equalcd
SANDER was his favori,e weapon, and nv one stood
in his way who did not feel tho yanau, Of his
tongue and PEN
The world win be slow 10 believe fhna tho man
upon whom our peerless WAshingt n leancd-who
was the strength of HE cwn right arm during all
the trials Of his military and civil iie--who WAS
the friend most trusted aud eouns fed ~ith-who
was consulted 10 the preparation Of the Farewell
Address; and, when troubles with France
drew Washington from tho retirement which in
his old age, he 70 mnch desired Ia head our orm.
ie-. was selected by him. ovo- Knox aud others. to
be second in onmand-tbe .lnan vhs ~as chos
en- by his brother officers and companions in the
seven yea,. war, who knew him best, 10 Eli that
place ~ the presiseni of shr Gino; raati, made
sacan, ny. tte ~idl mw~la l Mashne,sn--wc say
that tho world viii be slow To credit tls assertion
of Mr.. CLrAESs. that this pan Nas tho vilo com
pouod Of "nsenm.s Mlignty hypocrisy, liccn'
tiousness aud slacier which lac IL here repre-.
scented to have been.
Shak spsare says, TIE evil Hen Do lives after
them. while the COED is aftea e rred with their
bones:" but if the relative estimate Of Burr and
Hamilton which our author secps 10 entertain,
were the popular enc. VIC II oud witness II com
plete reversal Of Shakespeare theory, fur ms mp
plicabie 10 Burr, whereas, in this case, Hamilton
has been the exception. Contemporary historians
do not always ane,e out justice to useir subjects
but after ALL there is no other nsars OF determi-
ming the characters Of men than Ivy the recorded
opinions Of aEosc who ~ere contemporary with
them nf their actions aud the ea,ts Of their ne
tons, iosterity can jndgc, whilst only those who
knew them personally can speak aavisrly of their
personal character Whatever ms; be- tho OPT
Mon entertained respecting Hsmitons political
doctrines and cEreer, his rcrssnal character hns
generally been deemed abevc rerreseh and his
honor unin peOched whilst even the hiographrr
of Burr, his trusted friend, Mathew /. Davis. was
compelled to suppress many of the evidences Of
moral turritude icrnshed by Barre sNn papers.
That he wes brave, and generous oven to prod
gality. no one will deny. That he retIored Elf
cient service in tho army during lie connection
with it, no oRc acquainted with the instry OF his
career, viii dispute, hut. With AL lis talents.
courage, energy, and addrcss, it IL we'll knuwn
shat he never er oye,i the conf hence " Washing
ton; Of which fscL Mr.. DAVIS. his b,agrapher,
complains
Nothing ever more rlrikiu2ly digh,soa tho
wisdom and sasacity Oh Washington hip, keen IN
sight into the chauaetec ami principles of men,
thanhis conduct iowa res thoss ,wo,youns officers;
when, in consideration Of hAs hiGh b.rtii all other
things being equal, it might b. supposed that he
would have layished his iuyarN 1lon .Bur. But
these facts. powerfully thcy s.,euiL wcgh, are
not all that are lsftus to cid M forming eur OPT
MON Of Hamilton. There asli.ing contemporary
with Hamilton, and for many yo<srs u!tcrwar ono
of the brehtes. ornaments the Americas pull
pit has ever produced. lie wss the i.&ia,a,c
friend OF Hamiton--ti,e man desired ahVee all
others, by the dying statesman IA. s.lwiuistsr the
consolstions OF religion 10 him IN l,is lest hours.
lie was the person chosen by tho Seiety u Gin.
cinnat to deliver the Grafton in homo of Their la
,mented President. We refer to the eoneR. DIR.
John NJ. Mssen. nnthatephudid orahoa. und spca,
king Of the means that oecasoned the death If
Hamilton, be says: =" The voice Of va ri eyfuc,
the voice Of anmealic alArm. the voice al the ia.
theriess and widow. the voice Of nntion's wrong,
the voice Il Hamitons blood, the vote. of I'M
pending judgment calls for a remedy. y
Hamilton! Ne will cherish they memory, we will
embalm tlly'faaci Fare thee we'll. Ge., us,Nsral-
lelied mas. farewell forever" In letter o, n
friend in Scotland, DIR. Mason says; '"Aess |
have none but uhat the papers will have annoAnc.
ed befose this reaches you, melancholy, msS me-
lancholy news for America, the premature death
Of her greatest man. General Hamilton. I say
nothing toe strong when 4 assure yon, that, all
things considered, the loss II Wasting.aa vas
light in comparison with this- uismost ,seapead-
,oos talents which Get him above rvalship a'sd his
sategity rih rhicl intrigue had nci The hard1eod
TO tamper. held him up as the nations hope,