The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-11-30
Alexander Hamilton.

present generation tho remarkable ca
= rccr Of that distinguished Kcvolutiona-
rs statesman. From the oration deliv-
cred by Chauney NJ. DePew some of
tho Incidents of his life are here given,
especially for the benefit Of our young
or readers.
Alexander Hamilton was born IN
the West Indies in 1867. His father
was Scotchman and his mother Of
liuguenot extraction. At twelve he
was o clerk IN a mercantile house,
when he wrote, "I would willingly
risk my life, but not my character, to
exalt my station" One year later,
Hamilton was the responsible head Of
agreat commercial establishment, con-
trolling the counting room, making
distant ventures and maintaining it's
credit. Such was his promise that ut
fifteen he was sent to the United
States, then the colonies, for q collcgi-
ate education. His proposition to tho
President of Princeton to pass through
the course as fl as ho could master
It, without regard to the regular period
Of timc, was rejected, and he entered
Columbia College, Now York. The
impending crisis with England was tho
occasion of a monster rnass-meeting in
Now York City. When the orators
had closed their passionate appeals a
slender lad Of seventeen assembled The
platform. Curiosity soon gave place
to admiration, and admiration TO
amazcmcnt and enthusiastic applause
rs tho boy proceeded. Hy . his clo-
qucnco and logic, New York was per
suadcd to send delegation to the
Continental Congress. Many able
statesmen opposed the measure, but
they wero completely overwhelmed by
anonymous pamphlets which were
ascribcd to John Jay the brightest in
tellect of the colony. When il was
discovered that their author was q boy
Of eighteen, Hamilton became the
cynosurc Of al eyes. Yet he cahrd
a mob that was on the point of assuil-
Ing the suhmissionis.s. The war came =,
Hamilton equipped company, and mt
the ngc of nineteen became its cnptain
During tho gloomy retreat through
New Jersey veteran officer noticed n
company (which was Il model Of dis
cipline; its captain n mere boy, with
small, slender and delicate frame, who.
with cooked int pulled down over his
eyes, and apparently lost in thought,
marched beside q cannon, patting It
every now and then rs if it were a
favorito horse or a pct plaything," and
was surprised when told it was the
n3nro1 1Gm9Ms no Hamiltom: But tho Young
the American army crossed tho Rari-
ian, and at,Princoton and Trenton his
company won rcnown and left upon
Tho field thrcc-fourths of their number.
From the line, with its opportunities
Tor distinction and promotion, tho
necessities Of tho Commander in-Chicf
drafted Hamilton into his military
family, and at twenty he became the
confidential aid Of Washington. Here
hc was of incalculable service in re-
ducing the vast and complicated sys-
TEN involved In tho military and po-
Jitlcal management Of tho new people.
At the siege of Yorktown, Hamilton,
ut his own request, led the forlorn
hope that vanquishcd Cornwalls and
brought peace to tho United States.
lie was uon not twenty-four.
The first convention after tho Rcyo-
luton was failure, but it's address,
written by Hamilton, made the second
" success. A complete system of gov
crnment was presented by him to tho
convention. When tho Constitution
was adopted New York, led by her
war governor, Clinton, refused to
ratify it, but Hamilton ovcrcame an
overwhelming majority and carried
tho ratification through. Hamilton
thcn devoted his attention to private
affairs having already prepared him
sclt Tor the law in three months, and
almost Mt once having risen to the
mead of his profession. At the age of
thirty-two, upon the call of Washing
Ton, he became first Secretary Of the
Treasury. The now government Ind
no credit and was hopclcssly bankrupt,
commerce was destroyed and trade
paralyzcd. He created system Of
finance that at once placed the govern
mcnt upon it's feet, and thus effected
one OF the greatest achievements of his
age. Later on, when threatened with
war with France, Washington called
Hamilton to the command of the army.
-Four times was he thus called from
private business to public affairs. Ills
brief upon libel and the liberty Of the
press has become part Of The Constitu-
ton Of States and the Statutes Of eng
land. Tallcyrand. the wonderful
diplomat. willie visiting America. and
walking up street in New York one
night, said: "l have seen one Of tnr
wonders Of the world. have sccn q
man laboring all night to support his
family who has made the fortune Of q