Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1804-08-08
frsn the Nsw 1arl Evening Posi-.


a correct knowledge of the causes which
| produced the late national catastrophe and
as we are religiously of opinion that they
are to be traced to a political conspiracy
! formed by Mr.. Burr and his adherents, and
conducted upon systematic determination
10 take the life of General Hamilton, we
feel it duty that we owe to- the memory
of the deceased, and to the public, to state
the grounds of our belief. Forthis purpose
we have thought proper to SO into an exa-
mination of the subj at SOME length, and
We hope not without producing thai convlc,
ton on the minds of Others zhich had i'm.
pressed itself on Our own. A recapitula-
ton of the principal facts, with som: addi-
. tional circumstances, so as to present the
whole at one view, will close our remarks
/, for the present.
IL appears that about the middle Of last
February, alta meeting Of federal gentlemen
at Albany for the purpose OF exchanging
sentiments on the point, whether 1t would
be exbedient to throw the weight Of the te-
deral interest into the scale of Mr.. Burr,
in opposition to Chancellor Lansing, Genea
raj Hamilton openly took the negative of
the question. This opinion of General
Hamilton, accompanied however with con-
siderable misrepresentation, was commu-
nicated to the Editor of the morning Chros
nicle by some friend of Mr.. Burr, who had
contrived to be present. It. was immedi-
ately published in thas paper and animad-
'verted upon in terms of unbecoming seve-
rity: threats were, ar the same time, thrown
out that thee Little Band" would enforts
the observance of such conduct from those
opposed to them as they should think was
proper. About the same period General
Hamilton in conversation at which Dr.
Cooper was present, expressed his senti-
ments in relation to the approaching cleo
ton, and disapproved of supporting Iar..
Burr, in such manner, that the Doctor III
a prive letter, afterwards written 20 friend,
told him that General HamiEton's opinion
respecting Mr.. Burr, was, II, substance, that
he considered him dangerous ran, and
one 1vho ought not to be trustee 9th the
reins of government. This letter however
found it's way into the federal paper at AL
bany, then disposed to favor Mr.. Burr's
election; ard was Immediately answered by
General Schuyler, General aanilton's fa-
Their in-law, who said that since the nofni-
nation Of Mr.. Lewis in place of Mr.. Lam
sing, who had declined, General Hamilton
was determined 20 remain perfectly neutral
between the candidates, and, therefore, that
under these circumstances twas not proper
to throw the weight ofhis character into the
scale against Mr.. Burr. In reply TO THIS
Dr.. Cooper insisted on The correctness OF
the first statement; and added that he
" could detail sill mere desbicabte opinion
that general Hamilton had expressed of
Mr.. Burr" These letters were published
in April last, and no notice was taken Of
chem by Mr.. Burr or any of his friends, at
that time though his defeat was known
soon after their appearance.
And what do we next discover of his
conduct? He begins to practice with
pistol at mark in his garden; for one of
his intimates has publicly declared that for.
three months past, he has been in this ha-
bit, and that ne had at length become
g dead shot, Accordingly On the 18th
Of June having brought his skill 70 the. ne
cessary perfection, he sends for Mr.. Van
Ness AID informs him, shat he had for
sane time felt the necessity of calling to an
account, or in other words,i of challenging
General Hamilton; thatthe difficulty how
ever, had always been to lay hold of any
thing that would ustify the measure; but
that some one bad now put into his hands
the above letter Of DR.. Cooper, which he
thought g demapded immediate invcstiga-
ton. land that this was {, the evident obi;ni@
on ofhis friends y he therefore desired Mr..
Van Ness to act as his friend on the occa-
y IL,