The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2 - Online Library of ...

Online Library of Liberty: The Diary and Letters of Gouverneur Morris, vol. 2
prudent to censure others. All this must, somehow or other, be reconciled. He was in
principle opposed to duelling, but he has fallen in a duel. I cannot thoroughly excuse
him without criminating Colonel Burr, which would be wrong, and might lead to
events which every good citizen must deprecate. Indeed, this morning, when I sent for
Colonel Smith, who had asked an oration from me last night, to tell him I would
endeavor to say some few words over the corpse, I told him—in answer to the hope
he expressed, that in doing justice to the dead I would not injure the living—that
Colonel Burr ought to be considered in the same light with any other man who had
killed another in a duel; that I certainly should not excite to any outrage on him, but,
as it seemed evident to me that legal steps would be taken against him, prudence
would, I should suppose, direct him to keep out of the way. In addition to all the
difficulties of this subject is the impossibility of writing and committing anything to
memory in the short time allowed. The corpse is already putrid, and the funeral
procession must take place to-morrow morning.”
“A little before ten [July 14th] go to Mr. Church’s house, from whence the corpse is
to move. We are detained till twelve. While moving in the procession I meditate, as
much as my feelings will permit, on what I am to say. I can find no way to get over
the difficulty which would attend the details of his death. It will be impossible to
command either myself or my audience; their indignation amounts almost to frenzy
already. Over this, then, a veil must be drawn. I must not, either, dwell on his
domestic life; he has long since foolishly published the avowal of conjugal infidelity.
Something, however, must be said to excite public pity for his family, which he has
left in indigent circumstances. I speak for the first time in the open air, and find that
my voice is lost before it reaches one-tenth of the audience. Get through the
difficulties tolerably well; am of necessity short, especially as I feel the impropriety of
acting a dumb show, which is the case as to all those who see but cannot hear me. I
find that what I have said does not answer the general expectation. This I knew would
be the case; it must ever happen to him whose duty it is to allay the sentiment which
he is expected to arouse. How easy would it have been to make them, for a moment,
absolutely mad! This evening Mr. Coleman, editor of the Evening Post, calls. He
requests me to give him what I have said. He took notes, but found his language so far
inferior that he threw it in the fire. Promise, if he will write what he remembers, I will
endeavor to put it into the terms which were used. He speaks very highly of the
discourse; more so than it deserves. Mr. Hammond, who dined with us, desired me to
think of some means to provide for poor Hamilton’s familty. Mr. Gracie and Mr.
Wolcott called for the same purpose. I had already mentioned the matter to Mr. Low,
who seems to think a subscription will not go down well, because the children have a
rich grand-father. Mr. Hammond mentions certain engagements in bank, indorsed by
Ludlow and David Ogden. The same thing probably exists as to him, Gracie, and
Wolcott. Be motives what they may, I will use the occasion and freely pay my quota.
Clarkson will unquestionably do as much. David Ogden says he, Clarkson, will do
more than he ought. He is a worthy fellow, as, indeed, he always was, and is
extremely wounded. He said to me on Thursday, just after our friend had expired: ‘If
we were truly brave we should not accept a challenge; but we are all cowards.’ The
tears rolling down his face gave strong effect to the voice and manner with which he
pronounced this sentence. There is no braver man living, and yet I doubt whether he
would so far brave the public opinion as to refuse a challenge.”
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