National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-05

The New Orleans Pieayuns revives an old
scandal about the first Secretary Of the Treas
ury, Mr.. Hamilton, and commends his example
to certain prominent gentleman of the present
day. 1t is as follows: "About seventy years
ago there lived in this country g very great
man. His name was Alexander Hamilton.
He had been distinguished officer Of the Rev.
olution, and trusted friend and counselor Of
the fllustrious Washington. On the organlEa-
ton Of the Government Hamilton became q
leader Of great political party, and was sp-
pointed the first Secretary Of the Treasury Of
the United States. He was the ablest man who
ever filed that Office, As a party leader at time
Of fierce political excitements, Mr.. Hamilton
was the shining mark Of many bitter assaults.
His own party was not slow or moderate in It's
counter attacks. Mr.. jefferson was. the target
Of the Federal or HamIltonian diatribes. His
private life, too, was oYerhauled, and his every
act distorted into something criminal or i'm
moral. There were no limits to this sort of
abuse on both sides. At last the Jeffersonians
lighted upon precious piece Of scandal against
Mr.. Hamilton which did not even need coloring
or exaggeration TO render It excessively dis
tasteful 70 his friends and damaging 10 his rep
utation.
" The story ran thus A buxom and attract
I've woman had visited the young and suscepti-
BILE Secretary Of the Treasury, and under pre-
text Of seeking some favor Of him, had capti-
waited and sedueed him from the paths Of duty
and morality. An amour Of . somewhat
extended and complicated character sprung
out Of the affair, which" hSd gone far enough,
a. -, ~ L.,
as an adventures and biackmailer Of the most
Gvaricious nature. Finally, convenient hus-
band was introduced into the drama, an Hitter
ate and vulgar fellow who attempted the
panel game on the great Secretary. Nothing
but an ONCE N the Treasury or s5o, 900 10 cash
would solace the wounds Of his honor and con-
uubial felicity which were inflicted by Hamilton.
"That great man resisted and defed the arts
and opportunities Of both the woman and her
supposititious husbands Thereupon they sold
their valuable scandal to the enemies Of Mr..
Hamilton, who were not slow in laying the
whole affair before the world. The friends Of
Hamilton denied the story at first, but were
quickly silenced BY the amazing courage and
honesty Of his answer.
"Freely admitting that he had strayed from
the path Of duty, and had grievously sinned as
father and husband under the wiles and Sc
dueing arts Of voluptuous woman, he indig-
nantly repelled all aspersions upon his honor
a. public Official and gentleman. For his sin,
Of which he had deeply repented, he asked the
Indulgence of his feIloW-eitizcns, but II he had
permitted himself to be misled by any arts or
influence to betrayal Of the high trust con-
hded to him, he should feel that he had no
right to AJAX their forgiveness or indulgence.
''It is q curious fact in our political and so
clal history that Mr.. Hamilton's manly answer
completely disarmed the public censure, and
he continued uutll bis unhappy death the idol
OF his party, and the most admired and re-
spected political chieftaln of the era"