Complete Works. Hamilton Alexander
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future fame by such baseness; when she parted with her paper it should be to Republicans only.
On November 21 David Frothingham, the foreman of the office, was indicted on complaint of General Hamilton. The case was brought to trial before Judge Harrison, the recorder, and the mayor of the city of New York. Cadwallader Colden and Alexander Hamilton were sworn. The former, who was assistant attorney, testified that Frothingham had been called upon and said he supposed he was liable, but saw no criminality as the letter was copied from another paper. Hamilton then testified that he was innocent of the conduct imputed to him. This testimony was objected to by Brockholst Livingston, the defendant's counsel, and the objection was sustained. Hamilton was then asked to explain certain innuendoes in the indictment respecting speculations, etc. This having been done he was interrogated as to what was generally understood by secret service money. He replied it meant money appropriated by a government generally for corrupt purposes, and in support of the government which gave it. On being asked if he considered the Aurora as hostile to the United States, he replied in the affirmative. In defence Livingston tried to prove that Frothingham was not responsible, and that the editor should have been arrested instead. Ogden Hoffman, who appeared for Hamilton, replied that even every journeyman was liable to prosecution, and Frothingham, as fore-man, was especially so. The jury rendered a verdict of guilty with a recommendation to mercy, and the defendant was fined one hundred dollars, and given four months in Bridewell.
Later we find Hamilton constantly writing for the many journals that appeared from time to time in the interest of the Federalist cause. There is no doubt that he worked in conjunction with William Cobbett, whose caustic pen made every one uncomfortable. Cobbett was an English subject who, though he lived among those who had just gained their independence, was ever loyal to the English king. He had been a private soldier in New Brunswick, and when he came to Philadelphia, supported himself by giving English lessons to the French émigrés who flocked from Santo Domingo, and by these he earned from four to five hundred pounds per annum. He first took a shop in Philadelphia, publishing a number of clever but stinging pamphlets, one being an attack upon Dr. Priestley, who was driven out of England in June, 1794," and another entitled " A Bone to Gnaw for the Democrats." He also wrote "A Little Plain English and a New Year's Gift to the Democrats."
Urged by Hamilton he, from 1794 to 1801, published a paper called the Weekly Political Register which remained in existence from 1794 to 1800, when he returned to England by way of New York, and died there in 1835. Under the pseudonym of Peter Porcupine, he bitterly attacked the French and their American sympathizers, and warmly defended Washington, Hamilton, and others of the Federal party. His stay in Philadelphia was not entirely free from turmoil and embarrassment, for upon several occasions he narrowly escaped personal violence from those he had attacked. During the yellow fever outbreak he severely criticized Dr. Benjamin Rush, who was a popular idol, sneering at his treatment of the plague by large doses of mercury and bleeding. He went further, and called Rush a Sangrado, for which offence suit was brought for libel, and after two years judgment was recorded against Cobbett for five thousand dollars. This was too much for the journal, which succumbed, and its editor transferred his activities to a new field.
William Duane vied with Callender and Freneau in bitterness of invective, which was directed against the administrations of Washington and Adams, Hamilton always coming in for his share. Duane's libels were so virulent that he was prosecuted under the Sedition Act, but the suit was allowed to drop.
In November, 1801, several prominent Federalists, among them Hamilton, Troup, Richard Varick, Archibald Gracie, Samuel Boyd, and William Woolsey, established the New York Evening Post, which has remained in existence ever since. They were fortunate enough to command the services of William Coleman, a Bostonian and a clever and successful lawyer, who, for a short time, was a partner of Aaron Burr. So close was Hamilton's connection with the Post that pretty much everything in it relating to politics was ascribed to him, for it mercilessly attacked the Jeffersonians. Its columns were filled, not only with signed letters, but unsigned editorials and communications covering every political situation, and Coleman and Hamilton were ever on the outlook for the tricks of the other side. As illustrating the deliberation of their methods Hudson in his valuable work refers to the delay between the receipt of Thomas Jefferson's annual message in December, 1801, and its critical discussion five days later. After it had been digested it was gravely and forcibly torn to pieces in a letter signed Lucius Crassus, which was probably written by Hamilton.
Coleman was a pugnacious and witty adversary, and more than a match for Duane or Cheetham, both of whom were journalistic rivals, and upon one occasion expressed himself in the manner of the day as follows:
Lie on, Duane, lie for pay.
And Cheetham lie thou too.
More against truth you cannot say
Than truth can say 'gainst you."
This, or some other galling squib, led to the serious consequence of a challenge by Cheetham, the actual duel, however, being averted, as both antagonists were arrested by order of Judge Brockholst Livingston, but allowed to go free upon their promise to abandon the encounter. However, within a few days, a Captain Thompson accused Coleman of cowardice in the Cheetham matter, was challenged by the latter, and a duel was fought in Love Lane, which is now Twenty-first Street, with the result that Thompson was mortally wounded, and his antagonist returned to the Evening Post office "and got out the paper in good style, although half an hour late."
Coleman frankly admitted the influence of Hamilton in the conduct of the Post Hilliard says "Jeremiah Mason asked him (Coleman) who wrote or aided in the preparation of certain articles; Coleman replied that he made no secret of the fact that his paper was set up under the auspices of General Hamilton. I then asked him,' Does he write in your paper?' 'Never a word.' 'How, then, does he assist?' His answer was, 'Whenever anything occurs on which I feel the want of information I state matter to him, sometimes in a note; he appoints a time when I may see him, usually a late hour of the evening. He always keeps himself minutely informed on all political matters. As soon as I see him he begins in a deliberate manner to dictate and I to note down in shorthand; when he stops, my article is completed."'
The bitterness of invective indulged in by the rival journals of both parties has never been approached since. From May, 1803, to shortly before the duel with Burr the papers were filled with venomous attacks upon every one, including Hamilton and Burr. In an issue of the Portfolio, a Federalist sheet, June 5, 1804, appears the following: "Wanted, for the Aurora service, three fellows without ears, two with backs flagrant from the beadle, one traitor, and a couple of Deists, none need apply but who can come well recommended from Newgate, or their last place. N. B. Any young imp of sedition who would make a tolerable devil may have everything found him except his washing."
Angelica Church's continued unvarying interest in Hamilton's work is again shown in a letter written to her sister.
Angelica Church to Elizabeth Hamilton.
London, April 25, 1788.
At last my dear Eliza I have the best grounded hopes that we shall pass the remainder of our lives in the same city, how many happy evenings have I already past! from dwelling on my future happiness!
Colonel Beckwith tells me that our dear Hamilton writes too much and takes no exercise, and grows too fat. I hate both the word and the thing, and I desire you will take care of his health and his good looks, why I shall find him on my return a dull, heavy fellow!
He will be unable to Flirt as Robert Morris; pray, Betsey, make him walk, and ride, and be amused. You will see by some of Church's letters which have caused me to shed the most delicious tears of joy and gratitude, that it will not be long before we return to America.
Embrace poor dear Hamilton for me, it is impossible to know him, and not to wish him health and pleasure, and then I am really so proud of his merit and abilities, that even you, Eliza, might envy my feelings.
Adieu my dear friends, be happy.
And again later:
I am my dear Sister, extremely delighted with the hopes of seeing America happy, if the new constitution is acceded