The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1868-01-31

Ny intercourse With Mr.. Hamilton in
the Ohio Senate, where we served 10
gether two sessions, gave me an oppef
tuuity of becoming familiar with As
cha1Actsristics; md Iiesfe tesay tbht
1 never knew am MAJ mare devoted 10
truth and jasticS or hoie fearless or
pefsevering in the pursuit of What he
believed to be right. He ewas not man
of many words, but his mind was ac.
tive, discriminative, and remarkably
accurate, and when he spoke he con-
fined himself closely to the question
under discussion in language that could
not be misunderstood and his manner
forced the conviction upon Ills hearers
that he believed every word he uttered :.
never offensive, but always positive.
During Mr. Hamilton's service q in
the Ohio Senate, he gained for himself
an enyiable reputation for ability and
integrity, BY his sdccessful efforts Tin
ferreting out and exposing me 'fraddl
lent designs Ola powerful combination
then existing in Ohio, for the purpose
of controlling the public worksIof the
State, and even the State treasury. i
well remember how, earnestly he labor
ed in that cause, and hoy indignantly
he spurneds the numerous attempts
which were made by interested parties
to divert him from bis purpose. The
plunderers of the public treasury found
in him a public servant who could neith-
er be driven or corrupted. The State
of Ohio owes him debt Of gratitude
for his service in that contest.
=. l had not seen much Of Mr.. Hamilton
after he left the Ohio Senate, until he
came to Washington last spring to take
his seat as member of the Fortieth
Congress. knowing his superior quail
tiles as a man and as statesman, I was
most happy to greet him once more as
colleague, feeling assured that he
would be one of the useful members of
his Congress and command respect
flom all. Only those who knew him
well can fully appreciate his loss to this
body and to the country. 's tna -
Mr.. Speaker, Inever had the pleasure
of enjoying the society Of Mr. Hamilton
at his home, in private and social life,
but during all his stay in Washington
l was with him more or less every day,
and we spent many hours together in
walks and at our rooms. He was a
social, kind, and genial companion, very
fond of conyersing with his friend, al
ways cheerful and hopeful when they
were disponding, His opinions On the
topics Of the. day, whether political,
moral, or religious, were never con-
cealed or doubtful. He spent much Of
his time when not engaged in public
affairs in reading religious books. | was
in his room the night before he was
called home until a late hour. He was
reading Ginzot's Meditations, on the
Essence of Christianity, ands that fur
nish the principal topic Of our conyer-
sation. He was firm believer in the
Christian religion and in the immor-
tality of the soul; but his mind appear
ed to, rise entilely above mere sectar-
ianism, and to rest upon, the. broad
principles OF essence Of Christianity,
embracing the divine love of all mau-
kind. He seemed to be endowed with
that spirit of Christianity which has
been denominated by a recent author
"the enthusiasm Of humanity and
upon that subject he was himself en-
thusiastic. With him the brotherhood
and natural equality of all men was a
divine truism and the groundwork of
all Just social and political action. No
doubt fingered in his mind as to the
final triumph Of that principle; but in
the advocacy of his views he set aside
all sectarian and party shackles. Ap-
peals to his judgment always received
his most earnest consideration, but any
attempt at party dictation met his indig-
nant contempt Unwavering in his
party attachments from a firm conyic-
ton that the success of that party was
necessary for the future welfare of the
nation, and the final triumph of the
principles of universal liberty and
equality which he believed to be abb
solutely necessary to the permanenee of
free institutions, yet he never permitted
party consideration to influence him to
do. an act wheih he believed to be
wrong sc7g 1is s1
Mr.. Speaker, / might fill many pages
with truthful eulogy upon the virtues
of our departed friend, but | leave the
rest to others. Allis comprehended in
the declaration, which l feel perfectly
justified in making, that in his death
the: nation has lost patriot and all
mankind friend. !l. ti Iae .seru