The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-11-02
Gate City Letter.
.lifur Post:
GATE CRY, w, Oct. 3Od, 1893

it the discussion sad that Jefferson,
Washington and Lee were three Of
the greatest, and others that Wash
ington, Grant and Jefferson were.
All Of them lost sight of, and failed
to mention the name Of one, whom
the writer thinks is by far the great.
est man in Americas list of great
ncn-Alexander Hamilton. When
but boy his mind gave promise OF
that stupendious intellect which
| characterized him when he came to
mans estate. H. discussions with
his Instructors at the University, his
Tar reaching and analytical mind was
too much for them to cope with. His
memory was equal to that of Lord
McCauley, whilst his powers OF ar
alysis were something most remark
able. At the bar in New York he
had as his rival one Of the most sa-
gacious, and at the same time one
of our most unfortunate men-Aaron
Burr.
Whilst Burr was undoubtedly a
corrupt and unprinciplcd man, no
one has ever yet said he was not a
scholarly and an intellectual one.
Hamilton and Burr had many trials
of strength, and Burr was always
vanquished. When on trial at
Richmond, when he had for counsel
some Of the ablest lawyers of Viz
ginia, and Of other states to defend
him, his overpowcring intellect and
presence lowered far over that OF
any one present, except, perhaps,
the Chief Justice. Washington Try
inc has told us in one of his letters
to a friend how Burr managed his
case, anu said that when he looked
into the eyes Of Chief Justice M'r-
shall who presided, two Of the great
est intcllccts of the age looked into
each others souls. Burr and Ham
ilton were natural enemies. Hamll-
ton had defeated Burr, and nothing
was too hard for Hamilton to say OF
him. He scorcled him into furry in
one of the New York papers, and
that led to the duel between them.
Hamilton has told us through a
friend that he would never have ac-
copied Burr's challenge had he not
thought that his country was APP
preaching crisis i'll her history, and
needed a strong man to carry her
safely through. He thought by re-
fusing the challenge he would sub
iect himself to criticism from a GER
tain class who believed i'll the cote
of honor, and thHs he went on the
field and vas killed:
Public opinion ut once turned tq
him as martyr, and Bnrl'S political
death was sealed. He was ,corncd
by all, and his memory stands TO-
dav monument to the inSratitude
and instability of man. Hamilton, it
should be remembered, had accomp-
lihed more than Jctl>rSon didin the
short time he figured in political
life. Had he lived to a green old
age, jefferson would not occupy the
place he docs in history. Hamilton +
transcendent abilitie, and gigantic
intellect would have ovcrshadowcd
him. Jefferson recognized his abill-
tv, and when they were in Wash
ington's Cabinet together they were
not on amicablc terms. Jefferson
was more of a diplomat, perhaps,
more versed in the wilcs of the
Iterati, but his mind was not of the
analytical, far reaching kind that
Hamilton's was. Hamilton could
read the motives Of the heart and
could tell the springs from which the
action rose. Human nature was his
great study, and as student in that
line he stands prc-eminent. He was
one of the most patriotic Of Amer
leans. Fallcyrqpd, the great French
man, said on his VISIT to America to
a friend 81 have seen what | never
expect to see again; man who has
saved the credit Of nation, and
placed her on Il strong financial
foundation, working until > o'clock
in the morning to earn a small pit
lance for the support of his family"
This was when Hamilton was Secre-
:tary of the Treasury. TO properly
fudge Of him we must not lose sight
of that great boob, the "Eederalist;;"
with it his name will forever be as
5ociated. His letters there are the
grandest conceptions Of all the ques-
tons pertaining to free government
the writer has ever read. For re-
search; for sound clear reason. and
for the conception Of natural right,
the letters he wrote, in favor Of the
adoption Of the Constitution, caa
! never he cXcClled.
Next to Hamilton Robert F.. Lee
is the grandest man this country has
produced. He can not be compared
with Grant.
Politics are being discussed now
all the time. AS result of our raj
Ily here 4 great deal of enthusiasm is
manifested, and Craft friends are
hard at work. He will be elected by
! q handsome uainritv Dr. Snrncer