Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

admitted into all the American harbors, with the right to ascend all the rivers to the highest port of entry. But this reciprocity did not extend to the territory of the Hudson Bay Company, nor to the admission of American vessels into the harbors of the British North American colonies, nor to the navigation of the rivers of those colonies below the highest port of entry. No objection of alienage was to interfere with the possession of land within the dominions of either power, by subjects or citizens of the other, as existing at the date of the treaty, nor with its regular descent; nor, in the event of any war or rupture, was there to be any confiscation by either party of debts, or of public or private stocks, due to or held by the citizens or subjects of the other.

These first ten articles were declared to be perpetual; the other eighteen, in the nature of a treaty of commerce and navigation, were limited to two years after the termination of the existing war. . . .

After a fortnight's debate in secret session, the Senate, by a vote of twenty to ten, precisely a constitutional majority, advised the ratification of the treaty, that article excepted which related to the West India trade. Apart from the very questionable policy of purchasing so limited a concession at so great a sacrifice, there was a particular objection to the terms of that arrangement which made it wholly inadmissible. Among the articles the transportation of which to Europe the Americans were required to renounce, besides sugar, molasses, coffee, and cocoa, was cotton. Neither Jay nor Grenville seems to have been aware that cotton had lately become an article of export from the Southern States.

Though well aware of the deficiencies of the treaty, the President, before submitting it to the Senate, had made up his mind in favor of ratifying. All the members of the Cabinet, Randolph excepted, who seemed somewhat doubtful, were very decidedly of the same opinion. But the recommendation of the Senate, that a clause be added suspending the operation of the West India article, raised some nice questions and led to some delay.

The Senate had removed the seal of secrecy from their proceedings, but had forbidden any publication of the treaty

itself. Statements, however, as to its contents had begun to appear, accompanied by very malignant comments. In order to prevent hasty conclusions, founded on partial views, and wishing to hear the opinions of the people, Washington had directed the whole treaty to be published. But in this he had been anticipated. On the same day that this direction was given, a full abstract had appeared in the Aurora, followed, a day or two after, by a perfect copy, furnished by Mason, of the Senate, under his own name.

Ever since the arrival of news that a treaty had been formed, there had not been wanting strong symptoms in certain quarters of a disposition to condemn it beforehand and at all events. The violent partisans of France looked with very jealous eyes upon any arrangement whatever with Great Britain. No sooner did the abstract of the treaty make its appearance than a loud outcry was raised against it, as no better than a pusillanimous surrender of American rights, and a shameful breach of obligations to France. . . .

On August 12th, a Cabinet council was held, at which the question, What should be done with the treaty? was discussed, not without some warmth. Not content with insisting upon the repeal of the provision order as a preliminary to ratification, Randolph now took the ground that the treaty ought not to be ratified at all, pending the present war between England and France. The other members of the Cabinet insisted upon immediate ratification, with a strong memorial against the provision order. In favor of this course Washington decided, and the ratification was signed two days after.-R. HILDRETH.

[graphic]
[graphic][subsumed]

ALEXANDER HAMILTON was the most brilliant of the statesmen concerned in the formation of the present government of the United States. Though the youngest of all, he was among the most conservative. His intuitive appreciation of the rational liberty already attained in the development of the British Constitution, in spite of the accidental effects of unwise administration, led him to urge that model for America, instead of venturing into a wilderness in search of impracticable ideals.

Alexander Hamilton was born on the Island of Nevis, in the British West Indies, on the 11th of January, 1757. Little is known about his parentage or birth; but his father was of Scotch descent, whilst French blood flowed through the veins of his mother. The general opinion seems to have been that he was not born in lawful wedlock. His early education was entrusted to a Presbyterian minister, named Knox. At the early age of twelve he was placed in the office of a merchant on the island of St. Croix, where his talents and ambition soon displayed themselves. Writing to a friend of his, who had already gone to New York, he says, "I contemn the groveling condition of a clerk or the like, to which my fortune condemns me, and would willingly risk my life, though not my character, to exalt my station. I mean to prepare the way for futurity." In October, 1772, Hamilton

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

landed in Boston and from thence proceeded to New York. At the age of sixteen he entered Columbia College, where he made "extraordinary displays of richness of genius and energy of mind."

The contest between British oppression and American liberty called forth the best talent on each side, and young Hamilton's pen answered a paper by Rev. Samuel Seabury, "Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of a Continental Congress." The reply, published anonymously, was called "A Full Vindication of Congress." In reply to another pamphlet of Seabury's published over the signature, "A Westchester Farmer," he wrote a second and far stronger paper entitled "The Farmer Refuted." Hamilton's papers exhibited such evidences of intellect and wisdom that they were at first ascribed to John Jay, then the leading advocate of the rights of the Americans.

At the age of eighteen Hamilton entered the army, and on March the 14th, 1776, he was made a captain of the artillery. After a year's arduous service, he attracted the attention of General Washington, who selected him as his aid, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and made him his confidential secretary. His thorough knowledge of the French language made him very useful in communicating with the French generals, and his clear literary style made his services particularly acceptable to the commander-in-chief. Hamilton was present with Washington when the dastardly treason of Benedict Arnold was discovered, and his humane heart prompted him to intercede that the unfortunate André might be shot, as he requested, instead of being hanged. On the 14th of December, 1780, Hamilton married Elizabeth, the second daughter of Major-General Philip Schuyler.

In February of the following year, Hamilton was so imprudent as to quarrel with Washington; but their friendship was afterwards fully restored. In 1781, at the siege of Yorktown, to avoid jealousies, the attack on one of the redoubts was committed to the Americans, and that on the other to the French. The Marquis de La Fayette commanded the American detachment, and Colonel Hamilton, at his own request, led the advanced corps, consisting of two battalions. Towards

the close of the day, October 14th, the troops rushed to the charge without firing a single gun. The works were carried with but little loss.

in money.

At the age of twenty-five Hamilton retired from the army and took up the study of law. He rose rapidly in his profession, and still took an active part in public affairs. He proposed schemes for placing the finances of the country on a firm footing. The chief were these, -a foreign loan; taxes in kind; a bank founded on public and private credit, and taxes He complained that in the Confederation the States had too much power. He claimed that Congress, as the central power, should have complete control of the army, navy, commerce and diplomacy; that there should be a single head to each department; and he desired that a Convention should be called to reorganize the Confederation. He wrote to Laurens that to make independence a blessing "we must secure our union on solid foundations,-a herculean task, and to effect which mountains of prejudice must be levelled."

When Hamilton took his seat in Congress, in 1782, he had a better opportunity to advocate these views, and "the proceedings of Congress immediately assumed a more vigorous tone and character." He wrote, "The road to popularity in each State is to inspire jealousies of Congress, though nothing can be more apparent than that they have no power." He earnestly advocated the right of Congress to collect its own taxes. After a year's service he retired from that body and resumed the practice of law in New York. In 1786 he was sent to the General Assembly of New York, in which he introduced and ably supported the bill for acceding to the assumed independence of Vermont. He was chosen by that body one of the three New York delegates to the General Convention recommended by Congress to be held at Philadelphia, in May, 1787.

Hamilton's services in forming the Constitution of this country were invaluable, and although the finished work did not completely meet his wishes, yet believing that it was superior in every way to the old Confederation, he exerted all his talents in its support. What Hamilton feared was that it did not contain sufficient means of strength for its own preser

« AnteriorContinuar »