The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-14

command the army of invasion which
Congress had raised, aud which Wash
ington commanded nominally as long as
he lived. Death though took away the
great man under whose name and repu-
, tation adj this was to be carried out.
1t has always seemed to me that the
hand of God took Washington at the
very best time. both for his country
and for his reputation. Rufus King, the
American Ambassador to England, was
III the plan and reported to Hamilton
more accurately than to Adams and the
State Department. 1t was great
scheme and promised Il glorious career
for Hamilton-a career that might have
rivalled in the new world that of NapoI-
cons in the old. The American Gov
eminent was to furnish 1000 troops
with Hamilton at their head. Pitt was
to furnish the funds and n powerful
fleet. while Miranda promised to bring
in the aid of the South American Con-
federation of States. 1t is amusing 10
see how completely the details of the
conquest were worked out; even the form
of the government to be granted the
conquered kOuntry WaS agreed upon.
They were to have Lords, Commons and
Il life presidency All this may be found
in HamiltOn's works-etlition by Put
nam, and also in the Edinburg Review
Vol, MIL. and it shows now how nearly
correct Jefferson was when he declared
that if the Fetleralsts had not been de-
feated i'll 1900 our government would
have been changed i'll form.
There were at that day two other
great men at work under jefferson:
James Madison. of Virginia. and Aaron
Burr, of New York 1t was n consum-
mate skill with which the Vice President
had planned the campaign. When he
took his seat III the Senate, Madison
went into the legislature of Virginia to
keep that greatest of all the States III
touch with the master hand at Phila-
delphia. and Madison certainly succeed
cd. Patrick Henry was to have OPP
posed Madison IN Richmond, but death
took the aged orator away and saved
posterity the struggle between the two
men who had last wrestled i'll debate
together in the convention of Virgins,
of 1873, and in just reversed attitudes. l
refer to the debate on the adoption Of the
constitution in which Henry called On
the Heavens to strike down the enc
mics of mankind that sought to have tlie
constitution adopted, and imma lately
II great Storm burst upon the city and
the hall was emptied because of the t,r-
ror that the lightning inspired. We niay
also rejoice here that Providence took
Henry away, too.
Aaron Burr in close understanding
with Jefferson was laying the plan ;;'a-
was to wrest New York from Hamil-
toms influence and seat jefferson secure
ly i'll the presidents chair. Nowhere IN
the Union wasSa closer struggle than
that in New York. but Burr was as COLI
summate leader of men as jefferson him.
self, except for one thing: his heart was
not III the struggle as was Jefferson
Burr planned and conducted a campaign
that has never been surpassed, Ii
equaled, in the politics of this country.
ALI of this Jefferson supcr,ntended
from the chair of the senate. Every
thing was against him at rho scat OF
government: he was Ustracisnd from So
cety, traduced and hated AS no other
man has been. Il was Well-known thai
Jefferson could not bear unpopularity
and abuse and so ;ln CTgan Iel CifCrt
was made TO drive aim IL resign his po-
sition i'll Congress, but the Virginia gen
tleman was thoroughly aroused; he re-
manned at his post, and self-possessed,
and in all dignity conducted the proceed
ings of the Senate every day. He was
admitted to be the greatest parliamenta-
rian that the country had known and it
may be interesting to the reader To
know that 'Jeffersons Manual" with
some slight changes, has been used ever
since.
The excitement caused by the so-called
X Y. H. affair just before the election
of 1893 caused the defeat of many of
Jefferson's judicial adherents in Congress
still others became discouraged and
ceased to attend the sessions of Con-
gress. jefferson and noble Gallatin re-
manned at their posts, and in spite of
social ostracsm and almost personal in
suit on the streets and in the Hobbies OF
Congress, did their duty as they saw
it, Without Jefferson I believe the strug-
Gle would have been lost and the reac
tIion would have become fastened on the
people in a way impossible to have been
thrown off.
In view of all this and considering the
personalities of the men foremost in pol
tics of that day this subject becomes
intensely interesting. Never has there
been a purely political campaign so big
with future events as the one going on
just a hundred years ago and ending III
Congress on the 18th of February, 1901.
1t put Jefferson in the Presidents chair
and Madison and Gallatin in the cabinet.
Macon became speaker of the House
and remained such during three Con
crosses. Burr became president
and chairman of the Senate. And thus
began with the new century n new adj
ADMINISTRATION, and in the new city on the
PGtomac-now the beautiful city of
Washington.