From the Federalist Papers that Madison and Hamilton wrote together….(though later they would disagree on many political philosophies) they both agreed on the following thought:
“If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
Dear Reader:
It is over….Alexander Hamilton and I bid each other “farewell” at 5:45 p.m. I finished the book. A paradox of feelings accompanied the final sentence…. First I was saddened by the loss of a fascinating friend from history, but also I was relieved that his parting took place in a timely fashion. He left me on Independence Day with more knowledge than ever before of American government and a deeper understanding of Hamilton’s influence on our country today.
I thought the duel would be the climax of the book but, in actuality, Hamilton’s ‘bigger than life personae‘ only grew following his untimely death. Whereas Burr’s personal and political life dwindled accordingly… leading President John Quincy Adams to sum up his life with the words ” Burr’s life, take it all together, was such as in any country of sound morals….so deplorable that even his friends would be desirous of burying him in profound oblivion.”
*Interesting tidbit…Hamilton’s oldest son, Philip, was tragically killed in a duel just three years prior to Alexander Hamilton’s own death (1801) in a duel defending his father’s honor…at the exact location of his father’s later duel: Weehawken, New Jersey. He was nineteen years old, Philip had just graduated from Columbia College in N.Y.
*Philip was killed in 1801 in a duel with George Eacker, whom he had publicly called out in the middle of a Manhattan theatre after Eacker gave a speech during the Fourth of July readings at Columbia University that criticized his father.
Two sections of Hamilton’s (long) biography touched me more than anything else….After Republican Jefferson took office as President, Hamilton, a Federalist, began pulling away from the political scene of his time, and he decided to build a country home for his large family (7 children)
Like any endeavor in his life…he threw himself into the building of his home named for his Scottish ancestral home…the Grange.
(Hamilton-biography)
“Perhaps the aspect of this hideaway that most captivated Hamilton was landscaping it and growing fruit and vegetable gardens.”
Today his famous round garden is admired by thousands who visit the national park where his home is located.
“Hamilton even managed to “communicate a political message through his gardening. Among the many shade trees that he dispersed around the grounds, he planted to the right of the front door a row of thirteen sweet gum trees meant to symbolize the union of the original thirteen states.” *His last dying words were: “If they break this union, they will break my heart.”)
*In a funny self-effacing way, after friends had admired his gardening skills one day, Alexander said; ” A garden, you know is a very usual refuge of a disappointed politician.”
“John Church Hamilton believed that the time his father spent at The Grange, strolling about his gardens, broadened his religious awareness. During his final months, he was walking with Eliza in the woods one day and speaking of their children when he suddenly turned to her and said in an enraptured voice: “I may yet have twenty years, please God, and I will one day build for them a chapel in this grove.”
A garden, symbolic tree plantings, and an idea for a chapel….who knew Hamilton’s and my life could connect at some point in the story…who knew?
The first and last chapter of the biography aren’t about Hamilton but his wife Eliza who would be left with seven children to raise with little money to do so. She would live to be 97 and become known as the “Oldest revolutionary war widow.”
Am amazing woman, in her own right, she would help Dolley Madison work on the Washington Monument, set up the famous New York City orphanage (since her husband was orphaned… in his memory) and fight to tell the whole story of her husband’s illustrious career while dismissing falsehoods through proven documents.
Throughout their marriage Eliza truly was Alexander’s “anchor of hope.”
So until tomorrow… “Farewell” my friend, Alexander….we had a l-o-n-g visit together… but an unforgettable one. Rest in peace…you certainly deserve that!
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
*Eva Cate said “Farewell” to her first tooth yesterday (on July 4th) ….this “frees” up the tooth fairy to come for a visit! Good luck!
Fourth of July Family Photos:
Here are some hilarious photos (below) Kaitlyn took with distorted, creative images….too funny! (Click on and scroll down)
| As the sun went down, dark clouds mixed with red sunset skies mixed with white rays from the sun patriotically bid this Fourth of July good-night. I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day! |
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle