Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-11-23
Alexander Hamilton.

From an interesting biographical sketch
Of Alexander Hamilton, in the Atlantic
Monthly for November, written by Mr.
IC. O. Hazewell, we make the following ex
tracts:
The greatest name in American history
is that of Alexander Hamilton, If we con
slider the versatility of the man who bore
It, the early age at which he began a great
public career, the success which attended
all his labors, the impression which he made
on his country and its government, and the
rare foresight by which he was enabled tc
understand that our political system would
encounter that very danger through which
it has just passed, -and passed not without
receiving severe wounds, which have left II
scarcely recognizable even by its wsrmest
admirers. as.t ....-
Alexander Hamilton was born on the 1 lth
of January, 1851. His mother died in his
early childhood, more than usually severe
loss, for she was a superior woman. lie
was the only one OF her children who sur
vived her. His father soon became poor,
ara the child was dependent upon the rel
atives of his mother for support and edu-
cation. They resided at Santa Cruz, where
he was brought up. Just before .complet-
ing his thirteenth year he entered the count
ing. house of Mr.. Cruger, merchant OF
Santa Cruz Young as he was, his em.
plcyer left him in charge OF his business
while he made visit to New York, and
had every reason to be satisfied with the
arrangement. He read all the books he
could obtain, and read them understanding
ly. Even at that early age he was remark
able for the manliness OF his mind. He
wrote, too; and an account Of the hurricane
of l772, which he contributed to a public
journal, attracted so. much attention
that he was sought out, and 1t was de-
tsrmined to send him to New York to.be
regularly educated. He left Santa Cruz
aud sailed for Boston, which port he reach
ed in October. l772. Proceeding to New
York, he was sent to school at Eizabeth,
town, New Jersey and in I7I3 entered
Kings College, in the city OF New York
where he pursued his studies with single
success. But event. we're happening that
were to place him in very different school
from that in which he was preparing to
BECOME physician. He was to be the
physician of the State, and to that end be Was
thrown among men, and appointed to do
the work of men of the highest intellect, at
on age when most persons have not bait
completed the ordinary training which Is to-
| fit them to begin the common routine of
common life. ."H
Hamiten's connection with the history
of his country, as one Of those whe were
making material for it, began at the age OF
seventeen. The American Revolution was
moving steadily onward when he arrived at
New York, and by the summer OF ll741t
had assumed large proportions. be, first
spoke at 1.-THE Great Meeting in the Fields, :
July 9th, and astonished those who heard
| him BY the tervor of his eloquence and the
closeness of his logic His fame dates from
that day. He sided with the people OF his
new home from the time that he came
among them, and never had any doubt or
hesitation ss to the course which duty re-
quired him to adept and pursue. AS a
writer he was even more successful than as
a speaker. A pamphlet which he wrote in
December, IVA, vindicating the Contlnen-
tai Congress, attracted much attention, and
that and another from his pen wereattrbutsd
to veteran Wings. particularly to John Jay;
but the evidence of Hamiltsn's authorship
is perfect. or We might we'll agree with the
Tories, and believe that works 50 able could
not have been written by youth OF eight
Gen. Other writings of his subsequently
appeared, and were most serviceable to the
patriots. Young as he was, he was already
regarded by the country as one OF its fore
most champions with the pen. The time
was fast coming when it was to be made
known that the holder of the pen could
also hold the swsrd, and hold it to effective
purpose.
He had Joined volunteer corps while in
college, and was forward in all its dolngs
The first time he was under fire was when
this corps was engaged in removing guns
from the Battery. The fire Of a man-of-
war was opened on it, doing some injury =
This was the first act OF war in New Y OK,
aud 1t is interesting to know that Hamilton
had part in it. In the commotion that fol-
lowed, he was Jealous in his efforts to pre-
vent the triumph of mob. and nst, more
jealous than successful. From the very
beginning Of his career, he never thought
of liberty, save as the closest associate OF
law. Diligently devoting himself to the
study of military art, and particularly to
gunhery, he asked for the command OF an
artillery company. and obtained it after. q
4 thorough examination, being IT ade captain
on the l4th of March, l776, when but TWO
months beyond his nineteenth year. he
completed his company, and expended the
very last money be received from his rela'
tives in making it fit for the field. Even at
that time he advocated promotion from the
ranks, and succeeded in having his hrst
sergeant made commissioned ofhoer; q
fact worthy of mention, when II is recol'
lected that his enemies have always repre-
sented him as an aristocrst, there being
nothing less aristocratical than the placing
of the sword of command in the hands o.
men who have carried the musket. While
pursuing his military duties, he did not neg
lect the study of politics and his notes
show that before the Declaration of lnde
pendence he thought out plan OF govern
ment for the nation that was so soon tt
come into existence. Among them is thu
inquiry: "Quare, would it not be advisable
to let all taxes, even those imposed by thu
States. be collected by persons of Congress
sional appointment aud would it not b.
advisable to pay the collectors 60 much pc
cent on the sums collected?' This, as hi
son says, ''is the intuitivs idea Of genera
> government, truly such. which he first pro
posed to Congress, and earnestly sdvoca
ted" He was in his twentieth year wheI
he showed himself capsule of understan nd
ing the nature of the situation,, and th
wants of the country. Probably no othe
person had got 80 far at that time, and
required years for the people to reach tn
point at which Hamilton had arrived intr
9 itiveiy. With them it was conclus,o