To his equals he was condescending; to his inferiors kind; and to the dear object of his affections exemplarily tender. Correct throughout, vice shuddered in his presence, and virtue always felt his fostering hand; the purity of his private character gave effulgence to his public virtues. His last scene comported with the whole tenor of his life; although in extreme pain, not a sign, not a groan, escaped him, and with undisturbed serenity he closed his well-spent life. Such was the man America lost! Such was the man for whom our nation mourns! Methinks I see his august image, and hear, falling from his venerable lips, these deep-sinking words: "Cease, sons of America, lamenting our separation ; go on, and confirm by your wisdom the fruits of our joint counsels, joint efforts, and common dangers. Reverence religion; diffuse knowledge throughout the land; patronize the arts and sciences; let liberty and order be inseparable companions; control party spirit, the bane of free government; observe good faith to, and cultivate peace with, all nations; shut up every avenue to foreign influence; contract rather than extend national connection; rely on yourselves only; be American in thought and deed. Thus will you give immortality to that union which was the constant object of my terrestrial labors. Thus will you preserve, undisturbed to the latest posterity, the felicity of a people to me most dear; and thus will you supply, if my happiness is now aught to you, the only vacancy in the round of pure bliss high Heaven bestows. AM. ORATORY -4 EULOGY ON ALEXANDER HAMILTON 1 GOUVERNEUR MORRIS (1804) 1 GOUVERNEUR MORRIS (1752–1816) was born at Morrisania, New York, and was educated at King's College, now Columbia University. He was admitted to the Bar and became one of the foremost lawyers in his native state. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1775. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of his father, Lewis Morris. He was United States minister to France, and United States senator, completing the unexpired term of Philip Schuyler. He died at Morrisania. If on this sad, this solemn occasion, I should endeavor to move your commiseration, it would be doing injustice to that sensibility which has been so generally and so justly manifested. Far from attempting to excite your emotions, I must try to repress my own; and yet I fear that, instead of the language of a public speaker, you will hear only the lamentations of a wailing friend. Students of Columbia 2 - he was in the ardent pursuit of knowledge in your academic shades when the first sound of the American war called him to the field. A young and unprotected volunteer, such was his zeal, and so brilliant his service, that we heard his name before we knew his person. It seemed as if God had called him suddenly into existence, that he might assist to save a world! The penetrating eye of Washington soon perceived 1 From a funeral oration delivered in New York, 1804, over the dead body of Hamilton, who was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr, 2 Columbia University. the manly spirit which animated his youthful bosom. By that excellent judge of men he was selected as an aide, and thus he became early acquainted with, and was a principal actor in, the most important scenes of our revolution. Shortly after the war, your favor― no, your discernment called him to public office. You sent him to the convention at Philadelphia; he there assisted'in forming that Constitution which is now the bond of our union, the shield of our defense, and the source of our prosperity. At the time when our government was organized, we were without funds, though not without resources. To call them into action, and establish order in the finances, Washington sought for splendid talents, for extensive information, and, above all, he sought for sterling, incorruptible integrity. All these he found in Hamilton. The system then adopted has been the subject of much animadversion. If it be not without a a fault, let it be remembered that nothing human is perfect. Recollect the circumstances of the moment -recollect the conflict of opinion - and, above all, remember that the minister of a republic must bend to the will of the people. The administration which Washington formed was one of the most efficient, one of the best that any country was ever blest with. And the result was a rapid advance in power and prosperity, of which there is no example in any other nation. The part which Hamilton bore is universally known. Gentlemen of the Bar-you have lost your brightest ornament. Cherish and imitate his example. While, like him, with justifiable and with laudable zeal, you pursue the interests of your clients, remember, like him, the eternal principle of justice. Fellow citizens-you have long witnessed his professional conduct and felt his unrivaled eloquence. You know how well he performed the duties of a citizen - you know that he never courted your favor by adulation or the sacrifice of his own judgment. You have seen him contending against you, and saving your dearest interests, as it were, in spite of yourselves. And you now feel and enjoy the benefits resulting from the firm energy of his conduct. Bear this testimony to the memory of my departed friend. I charge you to protect his fame. It is all he has left all that these poor orphan children will inherit from their father. But, my countrymen, that fame may be a rich treasure to you also. Let it be the test by which to examine those who solicit your favor. Disregarding professions, view their conduct, and on a doubtful occasion ask, "Would Hamilton have done this thing?" You all know how he perished. On this last scene I cannot, I must not, dwell. It might excite emotions too strong for your better judgment. Suffer not your indignation to lead to any act which might again offend the insulted majesty of the laws. On his part, as from his lips, though with my voice, for his voice you will hear no more, let me entreat you to respect yourselves. And now, ye ministers of the everlasting God, perform your holy office, and commit these ashes of our departed brother to the bosom of the grave. IN DEFENSE OF THE INDIAN'S RELIGION 1 RED JACKET RED JACKET (1751-1830), a chief of the Seneca Indians, was born near Seneca Lake, New York. He derived the name of Red Jacket from a richly embroidered scarlet jacket given him by a British officer, with whom he served in the War of the Revolution. Later he became a useful ally of the United States government, securing valuable information of the hostile plans of the Indians under Tecumseh during the war on the Niagara frontier. He died on the Seneca reservation, near Buffalo. You say that you are sent to instruct us how to worship the Great Spirit agreeably to His mind; and, if we do not take hold of the religion which you white people teach, we shall be unhappy hereafter. You say that you are right and we are lost. How do we know this to be true? We understand that your religion is written in a Book. If it was intended for us, as well as you, why has not the Great Spirit given to us, and not only to us, but why did He not give to our forefathers, the knowledge of that Book, with the means of understanding it rightly? We only know what you tell us about it. How shall we know when to believe, being so often deceived by the white people? Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do the white people differ so much about it? Why are not all agreed, as you can all read the Book? Brother, we do not understand these things. We 1 Delivered at a council of the chiefs of the Iroquois, after a missionary had spoken of work he hoped to do among their people. |