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and more firmly established we constantly and steadily thrive as a nation. It is hardly necessary to say that those principles that are most firmly dependent upon an adherence to the precepts of the Constitution have been the best. This has been tested and proved over and over again. That great "system of fundamental principles" has ever served and saved us in times of national peril, and when its provisions have been ignored, or it has been disregarded, we have, at times, been perilously near demoralization, for then the rights of all the people for which Hamilton really fought have been jeopardized, but not for long. Happily these instances have been rare, and those men who have tampered with it have usually been wrong-headed meddlers or demagogues.
After the many years that have elapsed since the creation of the Constitution of the United States, it is not saying too much to assert that to Hamilton belongs most of the credit for its preparation and adoption, and that it is to-day the best monument of his greatness.
The rancor of personal abuse, so prevalent during the early part of the last century, does not now concern or interest a great people, and whatever were his faults -- which, by the way, were only those of an impetuous nature -- the persistent and prophetic work of his short life is now making itself felt, and its results are admitted, by those more competent and worthy than myself, to be beyond improvement. Jefferson, Callender and Cheatham are gone. Freneau's scurrilous diatribes are forgotten, and, to-day, able and impartial historians, both here and abroad, are according him the tardy acknowledgment of what he has done for the United States and for the World.
Perhaps his most impartial and grateful critics and admirers are the millions who, denied liberty elsewhere, have availed themselves of the complete protection embodied in an instrument with which his name is so intimately identified.
Appendix A
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HAMILTON OF CAMBUSKEITH AND GRANGE
"THE progenitors of the Hamiltons of Cambuskeith, now called the Mount, were derived by Crawfurd and Wood, from Walter, second son of Sir David, filius Walteri de Hamilton, the third in the line of succession from Gilbert de Hamildun, the founder of the ducal house of Hamilton. Crawfurd further states that Hamilton of Grange, in Ayrshire, was the representative of the Cambuskeith Hamiltons. This is very probable, although neither Crawfurd, nor the writer of the family genealogy in Robertson's Ayrshire Families, proves it to be the fact. We shall, however, follow the latter account, said to be drawn from family writs, so far as it appears to be correct.
"The first recorded in these documents is:
" I. David Hamilton, of Cambuskeith, who had a charter of the lands of Blairmead from his uncle (patruus) Alan Hamilton of Lethberd, which was confirmed by the over lord, Archibald, Earl of Douglas, Lord of Galloway and Annandale, at Peebles, on the 29th January, 1411.
" II. James Hamilton of Cambuskeith, who was served heir to his father David in 1436. He married Margery, daughter of Sir James Hamilton of Preston, by Margaret, daughter of Sir James, afterward Lord Hamilton, by whom he had his successor,
" III John Hamiltonn of Cambuskeith, who married Marion, daughter of Sir John Maxwell of Calderwood, by whom he had a son,
" IV. Alexander, who was served heir to his father John in 1489. His name occurs as one of the assize in a criminal case in 1512; and he was amerciated for intercommuning with the Sheriff of Ayr, in 1527. He married Marion, daughter of Sir Adam Cuninghame of Caprington, by Isabel, daughter of Sir Malcolm Craufurd of Kilbirnie, by whom he had a son,
Scots Acts of Parliament as one of the curators of John Hamilton of Fynart. He was killed on the Muir of Glasgow, May, 1544. He married Margaret, daughter of Cuninghame of Leglane, by whom he had a son," VI. John Hamilton of Cambuskeith, who was served heir to his father, John, in 1546. He did not, however, long enjoy the property, as he died intestate in September, 1547. His relict, Joneta Muntgumery, was confirmed executores datein, the following January. He left issue: 1. John, 'his son and heir apparent.' 2. Elizabeth, 'his daughter.' "' William Hammiltone, Tutour of Cammiskeyth,' was charged with celebrating mass, and attempting to restore Popery at Kirkoswald in 1563," VII. John Hamilton of Cambuskeith. It was this John, probably, who married Catherine Farquhar, daughter of the Laird of Gilmilnscroft, by whom he had two sons: 1. John, his successor. 2. William, afterward Sir William Hamilton of Sorn. " VIII. John Hamiltonnn of Cambuskeith, who was served heir to his father, John, in the lands of Cambuskeith in 1561, and to his grandfather, John, in the lands of Pophill, Burnhill, and others, near to Craufurdland and Kilmarnock Castles, on 1st May, 1572. He married, first, Jane Montgomerie, daughter of the Laird of Haiselheid, by whom he had his successor, and probably a daughter, Elizabeth; secondly, he married Janet Stewartnnn, daughter of Mr. Matthew Stewart of Minto, by whom he had a son, according to the writer in Ayrshire Families, David of Ladyton, which lands he obtained from his father in 1571, and who married Marion Campbell, daughter of the Laird of Ducathall.
" IX. John Hamiltonn of Cambuskeith or Grange. He was retoured heir to his great-grandfather, John, in the lands of Overmure and Carlingeraigs, 3d Nov., 1603. He married Janet, daughter of William Cuninghame of Caprington, by whom he had no issue. His brother-in-law, William Caprington, is said to have obtained, unfairly, a charter under the Great Seat of the ten-pound land of Cambuskeith in 1598. ' Johanne Hamiltoun of the Grange of Kilmarnock' is mentioned as one of the assize in a criminal case in 1608. He died before 1615, in which year 'umquhile, John Hamiltoun of Grange,' occurs as a debtor in the testament of 'Mr. Johnne Luif,' Kilmarnock. He was alive in 1612, so that his death must have occurred between the years 1612 and 1615. The writer in
Robertson states that the representation of the family now devolved on his brother David of Ladyton. No proof is adduced of this, but it seems probable from the fact that Ladyton was the property of the family. It does not appear, however, that David succeeded his brother, or that he was ever styled of Grange, as we find." X. 'Alexander Hamilton of Greng,' mentioned in the testament of John Hutchesoun in Bog, Galston Parish, in June, 1616. He was retoured heir to his father, David, in the lands of Grange, 10th January, 1617. He married Agnes (not Elizabeth) Craufurd, niece of the Laird of Lochnorris, by whom he had two sons: 1. John, who is erroneously said to have died young. 2. Robert, said to have been the successor of his father, " XI. John Hamilton of Grange. His name occurs in various documents. In 1618 John Hamilton of Grange disposed of his annual rent on the lands and barony of Kilmarnock to the Boyd family, which he seems to have again acquired, for, in 1634, John Hamilton of Grange has in festment of the annual rent furth of the lands and baronies of Kilmarnock and Grougar. He may have been succeeded by his brother,
" XII. Robert Hamilton of Grange, who was retoured heir to his father, Alexander, 19th December, 1661. He married Margaret Hamilton, daughter of the Laird of Neilsland, by whom he had a son,
" XIII. John Hamilton of Grange, who married Elizabeth Craufurd, daughter of the Laird of Craufurdland, by whom he had two sons and six daughters, of the latter of whom, Margaret, was married in 1675, to Robert Hunter of Kirkland. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
" XIV. John Hamilton of Grange, who, in 1677, was retoured heir of his father, John. By a deed, dated June, 1677, he disposed of the 'forty-shilling land of old extent of the Kirkland of Kilmarnock, with the glebe lands thereof,' to the Earl of Kilmarnock. In 1685, he acquired part of the lands of Stevenston-Campbell from Robert Cuninghame of Auchenharvie; and about this time also he acquired the barony of Stevenston-Cuninghame from the Glencairn family; the mansion-house of which, Kerilaw, under the name of Grange, became the residence as well as the title of the family.1 He married Rebecca Cuninghame, daughter of Alexander Cuninghame of Craigends, by whom he had issue a daughter, Janet, married to William Warner of Ardeer, and an only son,
" XV. Alexander Hamiltonnn of Grange, who succeeded him, and married, about the year 1730, Elizabeth Pollock, eldest daughter of Sir Robert Pollock of that Ilk,