Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1804-08-03


lfot me 70 avoid i. There were ini1iin.
s;ck difficulties IN the thing, and ayfi Gcial
Embarrassment, from the manner Of pro.
|ceeding on the part Of Col. Burr. Intrin-
sick, because it Is not to be denied, thai
my animadversions on the political prin.
|ciples, character andviews Of Col. Burr,
have been extremely severe, and on diff.
ferent occasions, |, in common with ma.
ny others, have made very unfayourable
criticisms on particular instances of the
private condncho f this Gentleman.
In proportion as these impressions
were entertained with sincerity andutter-
led with motives and for purposes, which
might appear 20 me eomInendable, would
be The difficulty (until they could be re.
moved BY evidence Of their being erro-
|neous, ofexplanation or apology. The
|disayowal required of me by Col. Burr,
in . general and indefinite form, was on,
|of my power, lift had really been proper
for me to submit to be so questioned, but
Twas sincerely ofopinion, that this could
|notbe, and III this opinion. l was con-
|6rmed BY that Of 4 very moderate and iu-
|dicious friend whom / consulted. Be.
sides that Col. Burr appearedto me to as.
'sufhe, in the first instance, 4 tone uTsiie-
lcessarily peremPtory and menacing, and
lin the second, positively offensive. Yet
| wished, as far as might be practicable,
TO leave door open to accommodation.
This, think, will be inferred from the
written communications made by me, and
by my direction, and would be confirmed
|by the conversations between Mr.. Van
Ness and myself, which arose out Of
|the subject. ..--.l G.----- 49,. n
lam not sure, whether, under all the
circumstances, I did not go further in the
attempt to accommodate, than 4 punctili.
|ous delicacy win justify. If 90, l hope
the motives Ihave stated win excuse me.
Il IS not my design, by what / have said
Ito atix any, odium on the conduct Of Col.
Burr, in this case-He doubtless has
heard oIauitnadversions of mine which
bore very hard upon him: and i, is pro-
babe thar as usual they were accompany
led with some falshoods. He may have
supposed himself under a necessity Of
acting as he has done hope the grounds
lot his proceeding have been such as
|oughtto satisfy his own conscience. ~
| trust. at the same time, thar the
world win do me the justice 10 believe,
THAT have not censured him On light
|grounds, nor from unworthy induce.
ments. Icertainly have had stronprea:
sons for what 1 may have said, though Il
IS possible that in some Particulars, /
may have been influenced by miseon-
or misinformation. Il is also
my ardent wish that / may have been
more mistaken than / think I have been,
and that he, by his future conduct, NAV
shew himself worthy of all confidence
land esteem, and prove an ornament and
blessing to the country. ~. - T
As well because it is possible that I
may have injured Col Burr, however
convinced myself that my opinions and
declarations have been well founded. as
fromm my general principles and temper in
|tSiAAOHA ~ oiiutAaI dudtto--k nave Teo0lv-
led, If our interview Is conducted in the
usual manner, audit pleases God to give
me the opportunity, TO recoyerand throw
away my FIRST ere, and I have Thoughts
even of ressrying my second 6re-and
thus giving . double opportunity to Col.
Burr % pause and to reject. = = = go = !
tits not, however, my intention to en-
terinto any explanations on the ground
Apology, from principle I hope, rather
than pride, Is out of the question.
To those, who, with me, abhorrinp
the practice Of duelling may think that /
ought on no account to have added TO the
number ofbad examples, I answer tina,
my relative situation, as well in public As
private, enforcing all the considerations
which constitute. what men of the world
denominate honor, imposed ON me las /
|thought1 apeculiar necessity not 10 de.
cline the call. The ability to be in FL.
|ture useful whether in resisting mis-
ehief mr. eHretsnr, r,S,S,1 :,. 4