Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-12-27
CoR8ELIUs S. HAMILr0N.

Z thunder-bOlt IN a clear sky, creating q
/ feeling Of sorrow and depression not
unlike that dIfused by Mr.. Lincoln's
/ assassination.
The particulars of the horrid tragedy
which we print In another place, make
the heart shuddeI and are too sickening
to be repeated The peace of the Sab
bath morning broken by the stealthy,
parricidal blow, the frantic son cruelty
striking down the kind, unsuspecting
father, the murdered body lying there
half concealed by the frenzed hands
which destroyed 1t, the maniac with
| brandished axe pursuing and wOunding
his brother, the screams Of sister and
mother as they sought refuge from his
delirious fury, the unwilling destroyer
pursuing with deadly purpose every
one who came in his way or endeavored
to stay his destroying haud-au make
up a frightfu1 scene such as human mis-
fortune seldom uufolds to mortal eye.
Around it we tain would draw the veil
Of tender sympathy for those upon
whom this cruel blow has fallen, and OF
compassion for the demented boy whose
or so great a calamity. The family cir
Gle Thus made desolate calls for the
earnest cOmmiseration of all who would
ifweep with those that weep or would
help to bear crushing burden which
has fallen upon another.
@. S. Hamilton has Tassed fromamong
us. But few days ago he was with us in
life, one of the strong men upon waom
we leaned. Before this reaches the eye
of the reader he VIII have been laid in
his grave. Come from his place in
the national councils to which the voice
Of honor had called him, to enjoy the
merry festivities Of Christmas and the
New Year with his family and friends
he has but stepped Upon his threshold
to enter the narrow house where his
kindly face and voice shall be seen or
heard no more among men. The ten
der parent the stong man the useful
citizen is gone. There is a vacancy in
the home circle where were needed the
watchfuI eye and guardian hand, and
another where the nation earnestly calls
for the faithful, and the true. It is an
uncommon loss illustrative at once of
the uncertainty of human existence
and human hopes, and of the inscruta-
bic Providence OF God.
1t is not easy for one who has been
familiar with his strongly marked,
earnest face to forget it. It used to
frequently remind us of the face of
Lincoln, and was similarly suggestive
of a plain, practical mind, and honesty
decision and drB2ness Of character. Mr.
Hamilton was one of those straight
forward men who think on a right line
and despite all cant or equivocatidn.-
When he spoke he spoke to the point
leaving no. one in doubt as to his posi-
tioD always preEerring to speak by ae-
ton rather than by word. we cannot
forget the simplicity of his solicitude,
when he entered upon the late Con
gressionaI canvass, lest he might not
please the people in mis- style of speak
ing. Yet none that heard HIM went
away disappointed in that respect, and
hundreds will remember with satisfac-
tion the terseness, force and vigor of
of his speeches. He had the same traits
as a writer and used that method of ex-
pressing his views with more conf
dence, never venturIng to datter him
self that he could make much of a
speaker. His newspaper articles and
political papers mark a man of ability
anxious for the success of the correct
principles. Shortly before the close Of
the war he applied himself diligently
to the study of the political relation of
the insurgent States, and as the result
Of his Investigations published an able
entitled Suffrage and Re
The Subject Examined
by a voter of Ohio" The plan of reor-
ganization defined in this document
was wholly original with Mr.. HamiI- /
ton and is almost identicaIIy the same
as that which has subsequently, been
by Congress. 1t is needless to /
say that its leading ideas are reconstruc-
ton upon the basis OF equal rights /
equal justice, free education and loyal |
5y to the Union flag. Mr.. Hamilton /
firmly believed that had this plain. |
simple and just plan been adopted at /
the close of the war it could have been |
with comparatively lit I
tie opposition, whereas delay revived /
which were paraIyzed by the
death Of the rebellion. Time has fully
his wisdom.
There never was a more honest or
earnest champion of the pincipIe of
equal rights For this he Iabored with
untiring zeal, canvassing every county
Of Lis District and a large portion of
the State at large during the late cam
paign. He was one of those rare men
who refuse to bulge when the popular
tide sets against their honest convic-
lions. During the late campaign he re-
marked at one time to the writer: SIN
certain places they begged Of us to say
nothing about the Constitutional
Their newspapers hadn't
preached it and they feared that so do
ng would ruin our ticket. But in such
places we made the Amendment the
prominent topic and advocated it with
more vigor than anywhere else" This
is illustrative Of his whole
character. Where others would trim, /
md shuttle and conceal for poIicy's sake
le would speak out boldly his convic-
ons. He believed this to be a govern
nent Of the people, by the people, and
or the people, and so believing he q
corned to exclude the poor or any class
f them from a voice in it. His simple Y
lith adored his coUntry's flag and saw a
Is true glory in extending it's protection
D the humbIest equally with the high \
ST. v
Mr.. Hamilton was in the strictest F,
snse a man Of the people. Rising e
rom the conmoner walks of life, un- l
Ike many who attain distinction he n
ever lost or despised the old associa- Il
ons and sympathies Of his earlier life. Z
Te have been charmed with the sim 4 4
liclty with which we have heard his a
Id neighbors and friends applyto him tt
le familiar nicknames current between W