The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-11-14

.d-ic ivttcni OF enuSntcnSQ poNcy is brought IN
70 operation. Fer the land which they have
ce9ed 20 the United States they are not TO re-
ceivc not fprits, or pernicious luxuries, but
" animals and implements for agriculture"
No mention is made of the execution of two
laws OF the lat congrefs: one, to extinguiih the
Indian claims S. ofthe Ohio, and the other, to
exchange land in Louiiana, for land to the Z.
ofthe Miiifippi.
The new fyftem Of naval defence will proba-
bly, conititute another fubje6t of elaboration be-
fore congrefs. Are gun-boats a f,,ccefsfn in
erument of defence, this is a uueition which
the intercfts & anxiety of the nation call upon
them 70 examine with care and impartality.
There can be no friend TO his country, who
will not be delighted with view ofthe financial
arrangements of our treafury. Re/oMrees iyerea-
fug and DEBT decreaEng this is indeed plea
fling fpe6tacle, to the man, who has cat an
enquiring eye upon the finances of the Europe
IN nations, and who has fcen the heedefs or
perricious prodigaty OF their governments 70
itrongly reflected in the poverty, oPpreiiion s,
Ir.i!ery of the people.
Beiides theie important trbjects for delibera-
ton congrefs will have others before them
fcarcey icis intereGing in their nature. Among
thefc is the impeachment of Judge Chafe thu
fate Of the YazCo claimants /; and the eXtn-
guiinment ofthe fate Balances.
The author Of the following obiervations is
pefonally unacquainted with the qualities and
actions OF Mr.. Burr. Like mott of his country
men, he has had no other means of contemplate
ing the character of the Vice-Prelident, than
through the imperfect medium of the facts and
fi,ipcions which have been already unveiled to
tbs public eye. The following view mutt there
fore be inaccurate, and it may be unjuf. He
fhonld as much as any man lament fuch an in
iutice; and he would go as far as any man to
repair it. Should the contrary fide OF the medal
ever be difplayed; flould MIR. Burr or any of
his friends ever determine to enter into fats
factory vindication of his conduct the author
of the ficceeding iketch willn be the laft man
in the United States to deneate different and
more favourable picture.
AARON BURR
might have been beloved and refpeGfed bv his
countrymep, if he had not been dehrous of ac-
quiring premature renown. He was rapidly
iiing in the efimation of the people; among
the mott diftinguifhcd politicians or his own
fate he had long maintained an equal or afcen-
dant influences and the luitre of his name was
rapidly extending the union But his ri
ting reputation did not correfpond with his pro-
greliive ambition. A continued life of fervces
might have perhaps entitled him to the mott ele-
waited office, which it was in the power of a
grateful people to be(tow yet while there re-
manned any higher honour to acquire, his quick
ening defircs were unable TO wait the tardy pro-
grcfs of events. A few years might have encir-
cled his brow wit. The richelt wreath of honour:
but it was his deplorable deftmy 10 attempt to
fnatch his laurels from the hand OF time.
The nomination of Mr. Burr to the fecond of
flee under the contribution, was zealoufly adopt
ed by the republican party throughout the uni
on. They were anxious TO felect fome citizen
from New-Yor k, and Mr.. Burr was feen among
her mott diRinguithed citizens. This fentiment
was general but it was not universal. Even
at that time, there were few men equally DIFF
tiMguiflied for their love of virtue and their
knowledge OF men, who ventured 10 fufpe6t the
qualifications of MIR. Burr. They had traced
him in the receties of his private life and they
thought they haddifcerned fome lines in hisch
racter, which had excited their diiapprobation
and dread. 1t was not the fober and unaiIum-
ing iimplcty of Arifidss, which met their eyes:
They contemplated rather the poffbed accom-
pliihments and the pernicious difiipation of AL
c;biades. III one quality indeed this iilufriotS
Athenian was evidently hyperion to the Ameri-
can. He had many vices to conceal but he had
the virtue to difplay them. OF MIR. Burr it had
been remarked, that he had ltndied fyftem of
continued concealment. There were few con-
fidential bofoms in whom he would repofe his
mott important defgns, or mof vivid fenfations;
and few were the locations on which he would
truit his reflections upon paper.
Such qualities wherever they exit, are well
calculated to excite the fufpicionsand the fears
of all: and thofe who imagined they had found
them in MIR. Burr, were ltartled at the idea of raj
fling him even TO the fecond Office in the union
His afpiring ambition feens however, to have
grafped even at the firit. The hitory of the lat
presidential election, is fill developed in an i'm
penetrable myfery. There are fcenes in that
political drama, which have not yet been deve-
loped, and which it may be well for the honour
Of our country fhould ever remain behind the
concealment of the curtain.
But the part which Mr.. Burr is faid TO have
acted on that location, is fraught with the deep
eft duplicity and difgrace. IF MIR. Burr did re-
ally intrigue with the federalilts, the difruG of
his own party has formed his merited punifh-
ment if MIR. Burr is innocent, there are no
terms in our language, which can adequately
convey an idea Of his wrongs Is MIR. Burr then
really an aboRate? My own decided impreiiion
has ever been, that be is.
With thofe men, who will contemplate the
character ofM Burr in this precife attitude,
am willing to accord in the mott profound diff
appreciation of his character. Let theul ihower
down their mott abundant anathemas upon the
head of the political intriguer and | will not
murmur at the difpenfatoD. And furely even
his moi inyeterate enemies ought 10 be con-
tented with this expert iDarument of torture.
Let the pencil Of Titan delineate, if it can,
a more odious character under yrtuous re-