"These are the times that try men's souls."
Those were the opening words of Thomas Paine's famed pamphlet. Most of those who could read learned the serious nature of the revolutionary period and could quote those words. Both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison had written about the revolution by 1776. Jefferson had composed the stirring words of what in time would be called the Declaration of Independence. Madison had added his own less dramatic words but it would be left to Paine to write in the language all understood.
Paine's pamphlet, originally an article written with the title "The American Crisis" for the Pennsylvania Journal Dec. 19, 1776, would become known by the title "Common Sense". Still later the article with the phrase, "These are the times that try men's souls", would appear as part of Paine's book, "Rights of Man", which had several chapters. Thousands who could not understand the high-flown language of either Jefferson or Madison would read his writing. All understood the plain words of Thomas Paine.
Paine had been in the New World for only a few months but he had a clear grasp of the seriousness of the situation. He knew that the revolutionary fever, which was abroad, would in time sweep up all who understood the profound implications of rebellion against an absolute monarch such as George III of England.
Once George Washington had been able to win over the British red coats, other voices joined the fray.
Alexander Hamilton was one who gloried in doing battle. Jefferson, when he became president of the new nation, believed he could lead the nation in a fashion that would eventually wipe out all efforts to require any form of military support.
Jefferson believed an enlightened society would in time use reason to make standing armies completely unnecessary. However, there were those who differed violently with him. One was Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton had come to Manhattan with the encouragement of a Presbyterian clergyman who raised funds to support the young man he had known on the Caribbean side of St. Croix and learned to appreciate. Hamilton, this "brilliant" young man, would enter King's College and eventually become the protégé of Washington.
Hamilton had a vigorous combativeness in his soul. Whenever challenged he responded with energetic vigor. Because of this portion of his makeup, he had become involved in ten or more challenges, which led to duels. None had resulted in actual confrontations. In all cases seconds had been appointed who were able to settle the contested points without resort to the use of pistols. But this reasonable settling of conflict could not go on forever. There was one person who would not compromise, one who had an equally combative spirit, Aaron Burr. He was vice president of the United States. Burr was a person who would not allow a peaceful settlement to occur because on every issue of importance he found himself on the opposite side of the position of Hamilton.
By this time, 1804, dueling was fading from view. It was no longer considered a means of bringing about satisfactory settlement. Although most so called "affairs of honor" did result in a peaceful solution to the problem, there were occasions that could not be resolved by arbitration. The affair of Burr versus Hamilton was such an occasion.
It soon became apparent that they disagreed on everything and neither man would back down. Neither man was willing to give up his position on anything lest he be considered a coward. When this became apparent to all involved, plans were made for settling the dispute with firearms.
The Code Duello was very specific in how this should be done. A certain type of weapon was supposed to be used. These were highly inaccurate pistols, which would be used in an isolated spot that could not be observed by any who were not a part of the proceedings. A dueling site was chosen on the banks of the Hudson River. No one was to know this spot. There the two combatants would step off ten paces and when both were ready, fire at each other.
This was done with precision. Hamilton had made it known he would waste his shot and fire into the accumulated brush, well over the head of Burr. By this act he believed his opponent would do the same.
When everything had been done properly, Hamilton fired as quickly as possible. At least several seconds expired before Burr pulls the trigger.
Hamilton, by wasting his shot as he had made known, gave Burr time to aim his weapon and fire the fatal shot into the body of his opponent.
Burr's gun drove a smoothbore ball deep into his opponent's body. Hamilton collapsed. Neither man had eaten breakfast. Moments after the end of the duel, Burr comsumed a "victory breakfast" while Hamilton was carried on a stretcher to the nearest hospital. During his remaining hours of life, his wife and their children, one only two years of age, were brought into the room where he would expire in as peaceful an event as was possible.
A few days later, Burr who was to preside as U. S. Vice President over the United States Senate, called the Senate to order and carried out his responsibilities with proper decorum. He then left the area lest some government official dare to challenge his carrying out of what all knew was against the law of the land.
Decades later, Hamilton's widow was called from her garden in the yard of their Manhattan home to respond to a visit from Ex-president Monroe. She greeted him with icy reserve, which made it clear he was not welcome. He left without explaining the reason for his visit. Although nearly half a century had passed since the fatal shooting of her mate and Monroe had no connection with the event, Mrs. Hamilton was unwilling to allow even an explanation. As far as she was concerned, since Monroe had been a part of the government, even years later, she would accept no words or deeds that she felt inappropriate in the modest home where Alexander Hamilton had once lived.
One other person could have been considered a part of this tragic chapter in American history. This was Jonathan Edwards. Hamilton and Burr knew him. He was president of one of the more important educational institutions of the time, Princeton University. He was also a leader of the most reactionary form of predestinarianism. Edwards believed that the most conservative possible interpretation should be placed on the Scriptural understanding of the Bible. Since both Hamilton and Burr were thoroughly familiar with Edward's teachings, one can not help but wonder if, when Burr pulled the trigger and aimed his weapon, he was convinced that somehow God would deflect his fire. If God did not will that Hamilton should die rather than continue to bring tragedy on the nation, as Burr believed Hamilton was doing, then the bullet would somehow misfire. Whatever the basis of his reasoning, Burr did pull his trigger and Hamilton was blasted to enter either Heaven or hell.
Many years later, in my own childhood home, the influence of Jonathan Edwards was still evident. My father would never permit the use of the word, "luck" as an explanation for any event.
Edwards, the one-time University president, taught the more stringent understanding of the doctrine of predestination, a belief that God's will controls all things that occur including duels. In my opinion, that strong belief that the death of Hamilton was controlled by the Will of God was more than "perhaps", possibly even "probably believed" by Burr. Without a doubt, my father believed the Will of God controls all events. My mother, also well read, usually responded with Thomas Paine's words: "These are the times that try men's souls."
We can all be thankful that inaccurate pistols no longer settle theological arguments.
Jack Ramsay, Jr.
September 17, 2007
- The American Crisis, by Thomas Paine, original article, Vol. 1, In Pennsylvania Journal (Dec. 19, 1776), later included in his pamphlet, Common Sense, and still later in his book, Rights of Man, which had several chapters.
- My additional thought, added February 19, 2008 after reading additional books by the same author, Dr. Joseph J. Ellis, graduate of William and Mary University who completed his graduate work at Yale: I examined all references to the precise circumstances under which the duel was fought and concluded there is wide spread evidence for the fact that Burr had ample reason for believing Hamilton would need to be killed for the good of the nation. Burr passionately believed that the facts as he knew them dictated Hamilton must die. Hamilton died within hours of the tragic events that surrounded the so-called “interview with Burr”. Popular thinking forced Burr to no longer be a part of American government and to spend his remaining years as little more than a man on the run. The man Burr had killed would become a shadow, which Burr could never successfully outrun. Only one favorable result from the duel would have any impact on the future of America: the Burr-Hamilton duel would signal the beginning of the end of dueling as a way for American politicians to solve their disputes. Dueling would never have been considered with an outcry against such horror had not Burr challenged and gunned down Hamilton.
Jack C. Ramsay, Jr.
February 19, 2008
