New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-14

trine of State sovereignty exhibit itself, which
like fostering sore, continued to Attic
the body polite, causing weakness and con
fusion, till at last it was eradicated only by
great civil war and the whole system purged il
blood. Never was the supremacy of tn,
National Government more ably vindicateC
than by Hamilton in that first case. As
lawyer he exceled in the exposition of great
legal principles, rather than in hair splitting
technicaities, and in the graceful beauty o
his oratory.
! He was a member Of the Constitutional Con
vention of 1887, and became one of the most
prominent participants in the deliberations OF
that body. The Constitution, as finally adopted
was not entirely satisfactory to any member OF
the convention, but for the general welfare all
were obliged to make some concessions and to
reinquish some cherished notion So it was
with Hamilton. But it is not too much so say,
that the strength and utility of that instrument
is owing more to the wisdom and sagacity of
Alexander Hamilton than to any other mortal
man. With far-reaching foresight be then
pointed out the strong and the weak points of
the Constitution with wonderful precision, as
time has since attested.
Under that Constitution he was appointed the
first Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States, then the most important position in the
American Cabinet. And though he was mali
ciously charged with corruption, by unprinci-
pied enemies, yet he fully INDICATED his integrity
and demonstrated his unesualled fitness for the
trust, and when he relinquished his position he
was more honored and beloved by his country
men than ever.
But nowhere did the towering abilities of
Hamilton shine with more brlliancy than in
his mastery contributions to the Federaltst
The Fsderalist has justly been styled the
classic Of american jurisprudence. Hamilton
was the very soul of that document. The Con-
stitution as drafted by the convention, it will
be remembered, was strenuously opposed in
many of the States, and had it not been for the
able advocacy of the measure by the Federalist,
it would not, probably, have been ratified
The value of the writings of Hamilton as a
means to this end cannot be over estimated and
as an exposition of the fundamental principles
OF the Constitution they remain unequalled and
unrival!ed to this day. They have been the
Authority aud the guide of all subsequent states
men and jurists. Even the great Constitu-
tional arguments of Webster and Calhoun are
all inferior to his. Clear, logical, and convinc
ing illustrated by history and learning from
every science, enivened by imagination, and
poured forth in mellifuous stream of elo-
quence, those arguments are destined to live
through coming centuries to be studied and
admired as the master piece of mas ter. mind
In vain will you search the annals of our
country to find more devoted partiot, more
gallant soldier, or an ADLER statesman all these
and much more was Alexander Hamilton.
And though his body has long since mouldered
and decayed, his memory is still fresh and
green in the hearts of his couutrymen for
his is
Zone Of the few immortal names
That were not born to de-
But the contemplation of the lives of great
men, though it may almost always afford
agreeable entertainment for the time being is
only valuable to us as we learn the practical
lessons of those lives. All truly great men
are examples of industry, and Hamilton is a
striking illustration.
Character is as essential to greatness as is
the atmosphere to animal life. A pure moral
character alone can be a permanent tabernacle
for the dwelling of high intellectual endow-
ments. Hamiton's character was irreproach-
able, and the goodness of his heart always
apparent. He was ambitious, too; and so
ought every man to be.
Ambition is commonly regarded as a mean
passion, butt is not necessarily So There is
mean ambition and noble ambition. 1t was
against false ambition that Wolsey warned
Cromwell in the memorable words ascribed to
him by Shakespeare
Cromwell, charge thee fling away ambition
by that SIN fell the angels; how can man, then,
The image of his Maker, hope to win by't ~
Then he points to true and lofty ambition,
when he continues
Let all the ends thou aim st at be thy c )un-
trys,
Thy ~ Gods, and truth; then, if thou falrst,
Thou fall st q blessed martyr"
No one ever achieved anything great in let
ters, arts, or arms, who was not ambitious.
Caesar was not more ambitious than Cicero.
1t was but in another way. All greatness is
born of ambition. Let the ambition be noble
one, and who will blame it?
Finally, the whole life of Hamilton 10 q
magnificent and indisputabe proof of that oft
repeated truth:
Honor and fame from no condition rise
Act well your part-there all the honor lies"
And thus do
" The lives of great men all remind US
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind US
Footprints on the sands of time