Gen. Hamilton ON Reputation,
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Gen. Hamilton OH Repudiationo


Gen. James Hamilton was guest at a
Fourth of July Dinner at Columbus, Mis-
sissippi, and having been SCALED outn
by a toast, referred to the doctrine of
Reputation. In the course of his re-
marks, he narrated the following cir
cumstance, which occurred while he was
in London: 4"


"Gent.emen, I was in England when
the Intelligence was received and the
stock was felt of your failing to pay tho
dividends on your bonds. | might de-
scribe to you the panic which this intel
ligence produced, and its disastrous in
iuence on the interests of our whole
country; but forbear. know that the
losses of large capitalists are not very
apt TO produce much sympathy. How
ever, your bends, you will permit me to
in form you, were sold at a price which
seemed to premise q high rate of inter-
est; they were therefore purchased in
Europe by persons in moderate circum-
stances, seekingin this way an augment
ed income; by disabled half-pay officers,
by comparatively destitute widows, and
by trustees for orphans in nowise in a
better condition. The statement Of this
fact recalls TO my mind circumstance
which occurred shortly after the news
reached London that the Executive had
declined recognizing the validity Of your
State bonds. | happened to step into the
office ofa friend, highly respectable
merchant in London, where / met a gal
liant officer of the British army, whose
acquaintance had the honor previously
10 make He informed me that he was
en- unfortunate holder Of Mississippi
bonds He remarked, i shall carry tc
my grave large deposite of American
lead, which received at the battle q
Chippewa, where, wounded and disabled
| fell into the hands of your country
mon.- From their generosity, unbound
ed kindness, and humanity, | thought |
could safely deposite in their good faith
the little gold limited fortune had still
left me. saw the seal and signature
of the State of Mississippi; | thought this
enough; but | am nearly ruined by my
confidence in your country This, geL.
tIemen, was said with sensibility free
from all vituperation or querrelous a
buse. 1t was said by man who stood
six feet two in his shoes, the perfect and
entire impersonation Of the finest mod


in one word, the gallant Sir John Ma
rillon Wilson, who was wounded in Sc
ven places at the battle of Chippewa, and
who, amidst prejudice and ignorance in
regard TO our country, stood up as her
generous and noble defender in his own.
Can you blame me, gentlemen, if as
sured this veteran, with a gush or sem
sibiiity equal to his, that every farthing
Of the Mississippi bonds, interest and
principal, which he held would be paid,
as sure as there's God in HeaUen; that
knew the resources Of this State and
the character of her people; that this
was mere pause or suspension in her
good faith, which had resulted from
causes entirely connected with the sup
posed unfairness with which an interme-
diate negotiation had been made for the
aggregate and full amount Of the bonds,
in the United States; that there was not
in n'her people a particle of. meanness or
sordidness; and to hold on with infexi-
bic confidence to his stock.o


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