, 1873-01-12

Randolph, at the opening OF his second volume,
is terrific opening out Of Randolph's vile
Theraites, Who could only rctort in mean
speeches and investigation.
Wilkinson asc5ibes to Daniel Clark, the
attributed father :. of aIrs. Gaines
four times changed his allegiance, pcc4-
with ISLANDERS. He regarded Winfield Scott
as sneak for. tho other two,
and named tho o'er-auxious aud now
nearly-forsotten John Armstrong to bs the in
son to make Wilkinson @ sacrifice forthe loss Of
Washington City.
While suspended from the command, he
wrote an imploring letter to Madison, entreating
to be given the defence Of tha Capital; and his
fertility in expedients and wonderful knowledge
OF topography hereabout aro never better in
stanced than in his criticism Of that campaign,
and in his substitution OF better one for it. He
ia almost the only American General who has
treated the campaigns Of the Revolution with
that Wilkinson's literary powers were forever in
the way Of the security Of lis rank but. wher-
ever he went, with pom o. sword, he was formi1-
able and interesting. It will be remarked that
Louisiana was either tho ally OF Burr at tho
time, or d,iyellng worshipper Of Burr, like Mr.
Parton ut subsequent day.
HIS FRIENDS.
Jefferson and Washington, Hamilton and
Greene, aro good authorities, and had ample oc-
casion to know and measure Wilkinson. Tie
former made him Brigadler-Goneral many
years after the Conway caba1 expired. Jefferson
wrote when Wilkinson WAS old and in straits:
After he got over his first agitation lin the
Burr matteD We believed his decision firm and
his conduct Jealous for the defeat Of the con-
spiracy, and, although injudicious, yet meriting
from sound Intentions, the support OF the
nation. AZ to the best Of his life I have left it
to his friends and enemies, to whom it furnishes
matter enough for disputation. I classed N.Y.
self with neither, and least OF all in this time Of
his distresses." Greene and Hamilton both ap-
preciatcd and admired him.
Mr. Hildreth, who measures men narrowly,
speaks with almost uniform admiration and
wrote the best Of al the accounts Of the Rev.
olutionary War.
HIS ELoQUEScE.
His speech before the ccurt-mnrtial nt Troy,
in 1914, where he was honorab1y acquitted aud
his sword returned, csn be read at this day with
as much interest as when the old mnn pro-
nounced it. Said he: "If guilty, let my pun
ishnent be exemplary; il innocent, acquit me-
with honor" The Administration, desiring to
hsye him found guilty and disgraced, hired Mar
tin Van Buren, to usurp the place OF Judge Ad-
vocate, knowing that tl,e regular Judge Advo-
cate in the army could not cope with Wi1kinson's
keenncas Of intellect and eplendor of rhetoric.
Wilkinson closed at the beginning with Van Blu
rem, and made classical argument to chow that
he WAS not entitled to prosecute, either under the
army rules, the acts Of Congress, or the Consttu-
ton. To Van Buren's astonishment, Wilkinson
carried every point, and tho thirteen members
voted that Van could take his traps and leave.
A1adeon's Administration turned twelve OF the
thirteen men out OF tho army at the diaband-
ment, which, as Wilkineon does not fail to Rhow,
WIS mere act Of malice, such as Was done by
the public and the Senate toward those Senators
who voted not guilty at the impeachment trial
Of Andrew Jolngon.
FIS1S
No one will undertake, without shrewd inquiry,
to justify the whole life Of Wilkineon; but }ic
was, without doubt, one Of the most driving
American men OF his time, patriotic on large
grounds, and irnbued with the belief that he was
the country; and, through the lapse Of time
we can look back upon him as upon jackson,
Fremont, Kearney, and many another spirit who
became entaugled with the ambitions OF poll
ticians, and WAS cut down by hosts Of enemies,
the very number OF whom show the Importance
he attained. GATH.