The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-08


in its nature and end, take the liberty of re-
quoting, for publication, ftatement of the de-
clarations to which / allude.
Your ob'dt ierv't.
JAMES CHEETHAM.
Mef1rs. John Lang, & Co.
N. Y. July "a.
New YORK, July 25, 1904.
In your letter of yeferday you call upon us
tor itatement OF g The deeiaration5" which MIR.
M. l.. Davis made in our office on Saturday
morning laft.
MIR. Davis being in our office the elf inft.z a
conversation took place refpeetihg the Remarks
in the American Citizen of that morning, headed
Gen. Hamiiton'J death, MIR. Davis obfefved. that
the remarks refpe6ting thofe who had pledged
themfelves to fupport Mr.. Burr to the laft drop
of their blood, and wherein the names of the
DAvIsEs were given as authority, were true e
aongb." And further obferved, that the printer
ofthe Csrreaor hadthe names of acertain number
of gentlemen(we believe he faidtwelve) who had
agreed to fupport the publication of that paper
with their lives-and that their names were to
be handed to any perfon who fhould demand
perfonal fatisfa6tion, on conditionthat he would
fight either of them-and not otherwife.
Yours, &c.
JNo. LANG, & Co.
Mr.. CHEETHAM.
"To coTea understanding of this aTociati-
on of cold-blooded and fyftematic ftabbers,
whole devices, in all human probability, COM
pafed the death of General Hamilton, it is
deemed necefary to republiih the pafages in
the Citizen on Saturday Taft, to which the above
notes refer. They are as follow.
/" 1t has for Tome time been intimated by ma
ny of Mr. Burr's friends, in language that could
not be mifunderfsod by thofe who have calm
ly obferved their conduct for two or three years
back, that General Hamilton muR fall by the
hand of Mr.. Burr. The reafons aligned by that
gentleman's friends for the fatal threat, were
preciiely thofe urged by Mr.. Burr, in his CORE
fpondence with the deceafed. 1t was ftated that
General Hamilton had either himfelf propaga-
ted, or had fome how encouraged the propaga-
ton of what thefe gentlemen were pleafed to
term lander, traducing what they denominated
his honour and fame. 1t was impof1ible, they
fad that MIR. Burr, diftinguifhed for his bravery
and known from his eonRant bradice to be a
good ot, ihould be 70 Indifferent to his repnfati-
on as not to call him to an account. Beiides,
General Hamilton, although perhaps the mott
formidable opponent, was not the only one
whole death was meditated by Mr.. Burr and
They avowed their intention to accomplish, if
poiiible, by acts of desperation by fpilling the
blood of their fellow citizens, thofe, in their o.
pinions delirabe objects which by other means
they could not attain. For fome time previous
to the late election from twelve to fifteen of thee
bloody Williams affembled together in the night
and under injunctions of fecrecy and pledges of
mutual fupport, planned the diabolical work
and felected for deftruction thofe who were view
ed as the mott formidable obnacles in the way
Of Mr.. Burr's dehgns. In one word, il was
their determination to fight their way through
an hott of oppoGtion which could not, in their
opinion, be fubdued without blood! The pub
lie will fcarcely credit this plain narration of
horrible fcene; but have the authority of one
of the DAvIsEs for it; and this is confirmed by
all the circumstances which led to and accom-
panied the death of General Hamilton, as well
as by others which are here well known to have
exifted little anterior to and during the late E.
lection. 10 gentleman who mentioned the
fact to me, one of the Davies ftated, in exprefs
terms, and in tone and temper indicative of fe-
rioufnefs and courage for which he has no repu-
tation, that a COMPANY of MIR. Burr's friends had
formed themielves into regular aifociation on
principles, and for the eXprefs purpofe of duel
ing, and that they were determined to accom-
plifh by this fyRem OF terror and of blood, wha!
they could not without it."
Such arc the lines, contained in the Citizen
of Saturday laf, to which Mefrs. John Lang,
s. Co. alluded in their note. " Mr.. NJ. L. Da-
Wis, they fay, obferved in their Office, that the
remarks respecting thofc who had pledged them
ielves to fupport Mr.. Burr with the laft drop of
their blood, and wherein the names of the Da-
vifes were given as authority, were "true E.
Dough." The reader will perceive that the Da-
vifes are given as authority (nlore particularly
for that part of the above extract which defcribes
the aGoeiafioH Of d9eiiRt and their oIjea, and
that this was to take away tie life ofGeneral Ha-
milton, and other formidable opponents of MIR.
Bun.-That this dabolical purpofe of neft of
as unprncipled and desperate wretches as ever
infefted any country was meditated, is now put
beyond the reach of doubt. 1t no longer refts
on naked af1ertion. 1t is proved by the teRimo-
ny Of M. j.. Davis, bofom friend Of MIR. Burr,
and, in all probability, one of the accompli-
ces.
Ihave deemed it my duty tounma1 thefc men
and expole their destructive projects. am not
fure that ! fhall not, in few days, give to the
public the names Of thofe who formed the afIo-
citation Of duelifs-" pledged themfelves to fup-
port Mr.. Burr with the aa drop of their blood"
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