The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-15
JEFFERSON AND HAMILTON.

Some two or three years ago Curtis
the treaveling correspondent of The
Chicago Record, had n or more dis
paraging communications on Thomas
Jefferson, the greatest Virginian states
man. But Jefferson has had many bio
graphers and his life is we'll known. Re
Gently we saw an attempt to show he
did not write the National Declaration
of independence. The worst thing about
him were his views as to he Christian
Religion. He was steady, moral n
Clean, and extremely industrious. The
Record thinks he wrote more letters
than any public man known. 1t is
stated that $4,000 letters, neatly folded
and briefed were preserved By him and
found carefully filed away at the time
OF his death, with copies of the replies
sent to more than 16, 1000. These, how
ever. were only a small portion Of his
correspondence, as he retained only
those he considered of future usefulness
or Importance. Stenography was not
invented at that time. Every n Of
his letters was written with his own
hand, and with great care, although af-
ter breaking his wrist, while minister
to France. it became a great labor to
him. His penmanship was small, plain
and legible, every letter being perfectly
formed, and his account books are kept
in so small a hand that many of the
pages cannot be read ithou a magni-
flying glass;" He wrote equally well
with either hand. He earned to write
with his left hand after his right was
SO injured. His political writings as a
whole are of great interest and value.
He was a wise, far-seeing statesman,
n a believer in the people. 1t is per-
haps not extravagant to claim for him
that he was really the great political
genius of our country. He was able,
penetrating, president. His enemies
called him cunning" All sorts Of
charges were made against him and
most scurrilous. But Washington wis
abused and v~illipended in the same
coarse, malignant style.
Curtis in one of his Record letters
says of him and it is true to a consid-
cradle extent. particularly what JEFF
ferson said of Alexander Hamilton:
H has been accused of shielding
himself like a coward behind a clerk
in his department who was allowed to
publicly aSsail the character as we'll as
the conduct of Washington but it real
ly required more courage for Jefferson
to sustain Freneau under the circum-
stances than to discharge him. Fur
thermore, he freely accused his official
associates of reaso He openly
charged Hamilton with conspiracy to
overthrow the republic and set up a
monarchy. He declared that Hamil-
on influence in congress was obtain
ed by bribery and corruption by the use
of government funds and bonds. .
But Washington confided in his loyal
ty. admired his ability and bis personal
affection was never impaired, although
their relations were those of the mercst
courtesy after Mr.. Jefferson's retire
ment from the cabinet"
There is evidence of Hamilton's cor
ruption in Grady's South Against the
North" Before Washington a COM
pleted his first term of four years as
president, he was Disguised with New
England and anxious to retire. Jeffer-
son wrote to him-''The confidence OF
the whole country is conferred in you.
North and South will hang to-
gether if they have you to hang to-"
That was written before the new gov
eminent was four years old.