In the President
it was wise, it might also be his duty. But in Mr. Hamilton it was
a consequence of the profound policy which directs all his steps; a
measure dictated by a perfect knowledge of the human heart. Was it
not interesting for him, for his party, tottering under the weight
of events without and accusations within, to proclaim an intimacy
more perfect than ever with the President, whose very name is a
sufficient shield against the most formidable attacks? Now, what
more evident mark could the President give of his intimacy than by
suffering Mr. Hamilton, whose name, even, is understood in the west
as that of a public enemy, to go and place himself at the head of
the army which went, if I may use the expression, to cause his
system to triumph against the opposition of the people? The
presence of Mr. Hamilton with the army must attach it more than
ever to his party.
There were depths in Hamilton's mind which no wise mortal will ever
attempt to plumb. It is safe to say he did nothing without one eye on a
far-reaching policy; and aside from the pleasure of being in the saddle
once more, riding over the wild Alleghanies in keen October weather,
after four years of the stenches and climatic miseries of Philadelphia,
aside from his fear of Governor Miffin's treachery, and his lack of
implicit confidence in Lee's judgement, it is quite likely that he had
some underlying motive relative to the advantage of his party, which had
been weakened by the incessant assaults upon himself.
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