Looking at the state of affairs today, I cannot help but think that the real tragedy of Hamilton and Burr's duel was not that Hamilton died in Weehawken, NJ, of the wound he received in 1804. It's that Burr didn't challenge Hamilton to the duel until 1804.
If Burr had killed Hamilton in, say, 1784, then things today would be far better.
"...Hamilton was not only a monarchist, but for a monarchy bottomed on corruption."
--Thomas Jefferson: Author of the Declaration of Independence, author of the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, father of the University of Virginia, and third president of the United States of America.
There's a reenactment of the duel every year out east. Burr and Hamilton families pretend to shoot each other.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about attending, but rumour has it that those nasty Hammies have been improving their shot.