Part 14 (1/2)

In his reply the next day Hamilton said:

”I cannot reconcile it with propriety to ment or denial you desire I will add that I deeated as to the justness of the inferences which may be drawn from others, from whatever I may have said of a political opponent in the course of fifteen years' competition I stand ready to avow, or disavow promptly and explicitly, any precise or definite opinion which I entleman More than this cannot be fitly expected from me; and especially it cannot be reasonably expected that I shall enter into an explanation upon a basis so vague as that which you have adopted I trust on ht with ret the circumstance, and must abide the consequences”

The i his for:

”Political opposition can never absolve gentleid adherence to the laws of honor and the rules of decorue it in others”

Hae of Burr was soon thereafter handed to him by W P Van Ness The last named was the second of Burr, and Nathaniel Pendleton was the friend of Hamilton

Soe before the fatalThat Hamilton was anxious to avoid the conflict, clearly appears from a perusal of the many publications that immediately followed A paper he prepared explanatory in character, the second of Burr declined to receive, on the ground that he considered the correspondence closed by the acceptance of the challenge

It touches our sympathies deeply even after the lapse of a century to read the letter written by Hamilton to his wife to be delivered in the event of his death, in which he states that he has endeavored by all honorable means to avoid the duel which probably he would not survive He begs her forgiveness for the pain his death would cause her, and entreats her to bear her sorrows as one who has placed a firm reliance on a kind Providence

A few days before his death, he and Burr were guests at a diiven by the Cincinnati Society, of which both were , but it was observed that Haayety of a convivial party, and even sang an old loomy, and remained apart”

In his will, written July 9, Haret that his death will prevent the full payment of his debts He expresses the hope that his children will, in time, make up to his creditors all thatto his children the care of their ed to bear in mind, that she has been to you the most devoted and best of mothers”

The last paper that came from his pen was evidently intended as his vindication to posterity, his appeal to time In this he says:

”I was certainly desirous of avoiding this interview, for the ious and , and it would give ed to shed the blood of a fellow-creature in a private combat forbidden by the laws My wife and children are extremely dear to me, and my life is of the utmost importance to them I am conscious of no ill-will to Colonel Burr distinct from political opposition, which I trust has proceeded froht ain nothing by the issue of the interview But it was impossible for me to avoid it”

He candidly admits that his criticisms of Colonel Burr have been severe He says:

”And on different occasions, I--in common with many others--have made very unfavorable criticisentlen to fix any odium on the conduct of Colonel Burr in this case Heas he has done I hope the grounds of his proceeding have been such as to satisfy his own conscience I trust, at the same time, that the world will do ht grounds, nor froht of history sounds the following: ”It is my ardent wish that he, by his future conduct, may show himself worthy of all confidence and estee to the country”

That so apprehension existed in the mind of General Haht not have been altogether generous, appears fro:

”As well because it is possible that I may have injured Colonel Burr, however convinced myself that my opinions and declarations have been well-founded, as froeneral principles and temper in relation to similar affairs, I have resolved, if our interview is conducted in the usual ive me the opportunity, to reserve and throayto Colonel Burr a double opportunity to pause and to reflect”

And then, before laying down his pen for the last time, he struck the keynote to the conduct of many brave men who, like himself, reluctantly accepted a call to ”the field of honor” These are his closing words:

”To those ith ht under no account to have added to the number of bad examples, I answer, that my relative situation as well in public as in private enforcing all the considerations which constitute what men of the world denominate honor imposed on me a peculiar necessity not to decline the call The ability to be in future useful, whether in arresting ood in this crisis of our public affairs which seemed likely to happen, would probably be inseparable from a conformity with public prejudice in this particular”

At seven o'clock in theof July 11, 1804, at Weehawken, New Jersey, the fataltook place After the usual formal salutation, the parties were placed in position by their seconds, ten paces apart, the pistols placed in their hands, and the word being given both fired General Haiven out by the seconds is as follows:

”Colonel Burr then advanced toward General Haesture that appeared to be expressive of regret, but without speaking turned about and withdrew, being urged from the field by his friends No further coe that carried Colonel Burr immediately returned to the city We conceive it proper to add that the conduct of the parties in this intervieas perfectly proper as suited the occasion”

The surgeon in attendance states that after Hae he observed, ”Pendleton knows that I did not intend to fire at him” As they approached the shore he said, ”Let Mrs Haradually broken to her, but give her hopes” His physician adds:

”During the night his reat source of his anxiety seemed to be in his sympathy with his half-distracted wife and children 'My beloved wife and children'

was his often used expression, but his fortitude triumphed over his situation, dreadful as it was Once, indeed, at the sight of his children, seven in nuether, his utterance forsook him To his wife he said in a firm voice but with a pathetic and impressive manner, 'Remember, my Eliza, that you are a Christian' His words and the tone in which they were uttered, will never be effaced froony, death ca the duel Thus, at the age of forty-seven, perished Alexander Hareat man in any country or time Cities and counties bear his name in almost every Aic death will never lose its pathetic interest His unswerving devotion to the country of his adoption, his untiring efforts in the establishment of the national Governton, which knew no abate place in American history

As to Burr, the proverb found instant verification that ”in duels the victor is always the victim” Had he, instead of Haed their possible places in history A halo has gathered about the name of Hamilton Monuiven high place in the Capitol The hour of his fall was that of his exaltation

The self-saonist From the fatal field, unharmed in body, he turned away, henceforth to the followed by the execrations of his countryotten, brilliant talents availed nothing His desperate atteovernment by the partial dismemberment of the one he had helped to establish was thwarted, and after years of poverty and lect and obscurity in his own country As was truly said: ”He was the last of his race; there was no kindred hand to smooth his couch, or wipe the death-damp from his brow No banners drooped over his bier; no melancholy music floated upon the reluctant air”