The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-03-01


Westmoreland Club. on the night OF
February 30, City Attorney Henry X.
Pollard delivered most interesting
address on the American Revolution,
and referred at some length to the
activities Of Alexander Hamilton and
Robert MOI ris. two men whom ne
placed second to Washington himself
in the movements incidental to the
liberty of the American people. ana
the establishment of the government.
The data as given by Mr.. Pollard. the
result of some research may prove in
interesting at this time.
Hamilton was born ON the island
of Nevis, w. l., January II. 1857. He
married Eliza beth Schuyler. daughter
of General Schuyler. December IA.
1880, and recruited the first artillery
company, which was mustered into
the Continental service I'm 1875. He
was made captain by authority OF the
New York Convention. He served
WITH distinction III the battles of Long
Island. Harlem Heights. Chatterdon's
Hill. New Brunswick, Trenton and
Princeton. and became a member OF
Washington's staff with rank of lieu
tenant colonel in l777, and served as
private secretary
Later, in 1891, he resigned from the
staff and entered active service. dis
tinguishing himself at Yorktown
Takes Up Finance.
At the age of %. Hamilton deter
mined to make finance his specially
and his life work. He addressed an
anonymous letter to Robert Morris.
the richest and wisest financier IN
America. OF that letter 1t is said he
demonstrated that he had can Unborn
genius for finances"
In 1882 Hamilton became mem
Der OF the Continental Congress. and
In 1887 he was a conspicuous mem
Der of the convention which drafted
the Constitution of the United States
He was appointed by Washington. the
first Secretary Of JaG ,yreasairy. ana
coined the phrase'"A' Cofrcive Union"
Alexander Hamilton was in 1893
appointed Major-General and given
charge of the army, second In COM
mand to Washington. who was APP
pointed in anticipation of war with
France. Washington died in the
meantime, and Hamilton was made
first In command.
In 1904 he was killed In a duel
with Vice-President Aaron Burr. ana
lies buried IN Trinity Church yard,
New York City. Mrs. Hamilton sur
vived him fifty years dying In her
ninety-seventh year.
HTeSfuenL w aSHtIfAtpI sdlu III ann.
This I can venture to advance from
thorough knowledge of him, that
there are few men to be found OF
his age, who have more general
knowledge than he possesses ana
none whose soul Is more firmly en-
gagged in the cause, or exceeds MIN
in probity and stirling virtue.
Chief Justice Marshall pronounced
him the greatest character, next to
Washington. that the Revolution pro-
dueed.
Daniel Webster said of him: HE
smote the rock OF the material re-
sources and abundant streams gushed
forth. He touched the dead corpse OF
| the public credit and 1t sprung upon
| It's feet"
Mr.. Pollard declared that the splen-
| did assistance given the other lead
| ers by Hamilton during the times
that tried mems souls, proved Of in
estlmabls strength in the move Tor
freedom, and the establishment OF the
United States.
Ananciers of the times. He was born
In England in 1894. and came to
America In I747. Being a success
full business man, he had accumu-
lated fortune, and financed the
army for q while. He advanced $780,
600 In gold for the maintenance OF
the ColoniaIs at Valley Forge.
Washington's Appeal.
General washington's appeal for
funds at this time contained this strik-
ing language: 'Tdleness. dissipation
and extravagance seems to have faid
hold on most speculation. peculatfon
| and innate efforts for riches. have
gotten THE better Of every other con-
alteration ana almost every order Of
men,"
Morris was made minister OF finance
| for the colonies in 1881. and by
diplomatic tact secured a loan from
France of S4.,7eo 900, which was used
| in payment OF soldiers and for the
equipment and training OF recruits.
| Congress sought to have a part OF
this money devoted to other purposes.
and he, In n letter. declined to so use
| n. saving that he would neither pay
the interest OF our debts out of moneys
which are called for to carry on inc
war nor gay the expenses or the war
from funds which are called for to
pay the interest on our debts" ana
that he would not be made the min
lister Of injustice"
This communication was the oc'
casion for this introduction of reso-
tuition of condemnation in Congress
and though the resolution was sup
ported by Richard Henry Lee ana
Bland, Of Virginia. 1t was defeated.
Morris was one OF the first senators
from Pennsylvania.
Dies in Prison.
After the war he met with finan-
cial reverses, and in his pitiable tinan-
cial straits. he wrote friend Il
have no morey to buy bread for my