Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1801-1806, 1804-07-26

have been delivered but in cafe OF the melsn-
choly event that has happened. AZ it contains
his motives and reflections on the canlcs that
have led to this fatal catafrophe, il 10 deemed
proper TO communicate il to the public.
| No. IL.
| On my expected interview with Col. Burr,
| ! think il proper 90 make fome remarks explain.
arory Of my conduct, motives, and views.
! / was certainly deGIous OF avoiding this
interview for The moa ccgent rea.ons.
i. My Iehgou. and m,ral principles are
Rfopgy oppofed TO the praettce ofdoeiiing, and
it would ever give me pain to be obliged to fhed
the blood OF a fellow creature in private CON-
bar forbidden by The laws.
| Z. MY wife and children are extremely
dear TO me. aud my life of the utnof import
aDce 70 them in various views.
8. feel a fenlc OF obligation towards my
credlrors; who in safe Of acciden, to me, by the
forced fale OF my property, may be in fome de-
gree iufcrer,. did not thing myielf at liberty,
na man Of Probity, lightly TO exPoie ..en TO
this hazard.
d. am confciou, Of no III will TO Col.
| Burr. ditinet from political oppohti)n, which,
a, trua, has proceeded from pure aud upright
motives.
Laitly. fhsIl hazard much. and can pofIi.
bly, gain oo,hing by The ifue Of the interview.
But it wai, az | conceive, impoilible tor
me TO avoid il. There were ntyinfc difficulties
in the thing, and artificial embarTalincnts, from
the manner OF proceeding, on the part Of Col.
! Burr. ..
IntrinGc, becaufc it is NOT to be denied,
that my animadv; rfons ON the political pTinci.
pies, character, asd views OF Col. Burr, have
been extremely fcvere, and on different ocoaiions,
/, in common with naoy Others, have made very
un!svo sc crticifins on particular inaarccs of
the private condoti OF that gentleman.
In proportion as .hste imprefion, were en-
teUaioed with hncerfy, and uttered with mo-
tses, and for purpoies. which miRhr appear TO
me commeodabic, would he the difficulty lantil
they could oe removed by evidence OF iheir be-
ing esroneous,) y nj explanation or apology. The
diiavowal required of ne by Col. Burr, in gen.
eral and inde6nite fotm, was opt Of oly power,
| II i, had really been propcr fo' me to iCbmit TO
| be 10 queAioGcd Bat was iinceIely of opin-
ion, that this could not be, and in this opinion,
| was confirmed by ,ha, Of very moderate and
| judicious friend whom | coniuled. Befde',
thar Col Burr appeared 20 ne TO aGame, in the
hra ioRance, a tone unnect fairly peremptory
and menscine, and in the iecond. poiitivey of.
'enGve. Yet wie,ed, as fer Us might be prsc-
| ticsbe. TO leave door open TO accommo} alton.
This, think, will be inferred, from the writ
ten Communications made by me sad by roy di-
rettion, and would BE- confirmed by the conver-
la,ions between Mr.. Van Neis aud myfelt, which
aroic CO, of the fubjett.
| am not fure, W heihcr, under all the cir
cumfanccs, did nos 90 further in the attemp,
10 accommodate. than pontsious delicacy will
jueiiy. II 70, hope the morives I Sase Rased
viii execute me. 5i-t.a.~
Ii is not my deEen, by what 1,have faid, TO
sifx any odium on Col. Borr, 10 thin cafe He
doubrleG has heard Of animsdvet6ons OF mine
which bore very hatd upon him; and il Is Prob
able thar az .iaal they were accompanied with
fome ialfehoods. He may have fuppofcd him.
felf onder necefIi,y Of acting as tie hss done.
hope the grounds of his proceeding have been
fuch as ought TO falisfy his own couicirnce.
,rua, at the fame time, thar ihe wohi will
do me he joaicc 10 believe, that have not cen
lufed hin on light grounds, nor from unworthy
inducements. 1 certainly have had Asone fes
ions for what msy have faid, though It's pof-
| Gblc that in fomr particulars. may have been
i.Alcnced by miicootrutti,n or mlGnfornsiion.
| Il 10 afo my a,dent win that may haze been
more miaaken than think | have heen, and
! that he, by his fotu,e condud, may hew him.
! felf worthy of all confidence and eHsem. ard
prove an ornament and blei!iog TO The country.
AS we'll becauic il is poilib!e that | may have
| iojared Col. Borr, hoaeves convinced myfrlf
that my opinions and declarstions have been well
founded, az from my general principies and TEN.
per in relation 10 Gmilar sffairs--I have tefolv
| ed. if our interview is conducted in the afuai
manner. and il pleaies God to give me the op-
rcitunity, TO ,:jt,Vr and ik,oao areey my 6ra
FIRE, and saer sbOng6n even OF '5jf,zisg my
iecond hre-and thus giving double oppoItu.
| city TO Col. Burr to pauie aud toIeastt.
II is not, however, my intenton to enter
into any explanations on the ground--Apology,
from pyinciptr hope, rather than pride, is out
os the qaeRion.
To thofe. who, with me, sosorring the
| practice Of dueiIing, may think thar ought, on
| 10 accouni. 10 have added 10 the number of bad
examples. snfaer that my ,sla,ivs h,oation. a.
well io pubic a. privste. enforcing all the con-
hasrations which coniiitUte ~hst men OF the
world denou,inste hoaor. impoied on me tn
ihough;) peculiar necelii,y not to decline the
call. The ability 20 be in future rseful, whesh.
ca 10 refaiug mitchell os cffrtaiug good in ,hoie
crictes Of our public sff,irs. which 7ecm likely TO