, 1954-07-16

and Stevens Yniagton4 or Welch-July H will be the one
hundred fIftieth anniversary Of the duel fought between two
of thenation's Top Statesmen at the that, time, Alexander
Hamilton and AaronrBurr, who chose to settle their long and
bitter feud on the field Of honor.
Born on the Island of Nevis in 1857, and brought to
lSt. Croix where he grew up, and early precocity must have
influenced his relatives to send Alexander Hamilton to the
mainland to school. Once in New York and enrolled at Kings
College, now. Columbia, the unusually intelligent boy soon
attracted attention. His essays, written in an amazingly ma
tured manner, presenting his idea Of a patriots position
might well have been the lads fervent declaration of alleg-
lance to his newly adopted country, young America. During
the Revolutionary War, Hamilton was General Washington's
right hand man. Handling all of the great mans correspon-
dence and papers, he literally cut his first political teeth on
them. The confidential communications revealed to the keen
young mind blaring defects in the Confederacy that Hamil-
ton, could not abide, In 1880, armed with these disquieting
facts, he outlined a plan Of government that advocated a
STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, as a solution.
Just as Sen. Nc earthly is deeply concerned with protect
ing our country from the Reds and preserving our freedoms,
SO did concern for the political and financial plight OF our
country run hot in the young lawyers blood. He worked
tirelessly for the ratification of the Constitution. In New
York, where he had opened a law office, Hamilton became
a recognized Federalist leader and together with James Madl
son finally brought about the ADOPTION OF THE CONSTR
TUITION. Mounting the political ladder swiftly, he became
THE FIRST SECRETARY OF TREASURY, and as
such, established the Bank of the United States, and the
United States Mint. Unfortunately, the foreign-born dynamo
was highly unpopular in the South and this dashed all chances of his
ever becoming president. Jeffersonians viciously accused him
of being vain, personally ambitious and of a controversial
nature, but a fierce love of his adopted country ridiculed
both accusations and intimations. As with all prominent men,
Hamilton had enemies. High on his list were Jefferson, Burr
and Adams. Every inch a statesman, however, in 1900, ignor-
inghis hatred of Jefferson, Hamilton ~staunchly supported him
for the presidency against Aaron Burr, a. man he considered
unfit for the office. When Burr suoght the Governorship OF New
York, Hamilton again thwarted him declaring that the man
was dangerous, one whom, if necessary he could detail a more
despicable opinion. Frustrated and in a bistering rage, Burr
challenged Hamilton to a duel
A chill July dawn, in W~eehawken, New Jersey, 10 years
ago, saw the Vice-President and former Secretary of the
Treasury meet in a wooded spot high above the Hudson
River, silently choose pistols, pace off, turn and fire. And SO,
the duel that shocked the nation had been consumated, and
Burr had his satisfaction assassinating the brilliant career OF
Alexander Hamilton at the comparatively young age Of forty
seven. Too bad Hamilton did not live in this day and age.
True, he might have been bumped off, but with the duel out
of vogue, his chances of survival would have been much bet
for @.#