Thoughts On Hamilton

I've been indulging my appetite for history as of late in downtown Manhattan, particularly since I'm working in the financial district at the moment. There are a lot of remants of the past down there that, unless you're aware of your surroundings, you're bound to miss. That said, I've been to Alexander Hamilton's grave quite a bit. He's very quickly becoming one of my favorite historical figures, right up there, perhaps, with the great Winston Churchill. There are two monuments to Hamilton in and around Trinity Church. In the rectory is a monument to Hamilton from the Society of Cincinnati, a group made up of Revolutionary War veterans, particularly those who were part of Gen. Washington's inner circle. The text, which mostly escapes me (I'll have to jot it down and post it at a later date) is quite moving. Outside in the churchyard is his grave, which also has a very moving epitath. It reads:

In testimony of their Respect For

The Patriot of incorruptible Integrity,

The Soldier of approved Valour,

The Statesman of consummate Wisdom;

Whose Talents and Virtues will be admired

By Grateful Posterity

Long after this Marble shall have mouldered into Dust

Having finished the Ron Chernow biography on Hamilton a few months ago, I can say that this epitath is both a fitting and accurate assessment of Hamilton, and an honest evaluation of the weight of the man's character and actions. A good example of this would be the constant insinuations of wrongdoing and subsequent investigations of Hamilton's actions as Secretary of Treasury during the Washington and Adams administrations. Thomas Jefferson, upon assuming the presidency, charged his newly appointed Secretary of State, Albert Gallatin (who, coincidentally happens to also have been interred in the Trinity Church graveyard, albiet (and quite fittingly) on the opposite side of the yard) to do a full audit of Hamilton's records at Treasury. This undertaking was delegated by Jefferson to Gallatin with the express purpose of exposing, once and for all, the alleged corrupt character of Hamilton. Gallatin not only found no wrongdoing, but was duly impressed with Hamilton's management of Treasury. Years later, Gallatin recalled Jefferson's reaction:

" 'Well Gallatin, what have you found?' Jefferson asked. I answered: 'I have found the most perfect system ever formed. Any change that should be made in it would injure it. Hamilton made no blunders, committed no frauds. He did nothing wrong." I think Mr. Jefferson was disappointed.' "