The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-02
AARON BURR.

been no longer an inhabitant of the union. He
would have ilIared the fame fate as I4riRides
himfelf: and like that luxurious Athenian,
he would probably have been as OUTLETS of the
Preeie charge, which has been adduced againf
him. Let the reader bear with me for a mo.
ment, Whit he liitens TO the circumstances
which have extorfea from me this declaration
Ifhe feels furprife now, that have made fuch
an aiiertion, what will be his iurprfe, when he
hears the circumstances ON which make it?
A gentleman of the nsgf respectable authori-
ty, whole correctness of perception, and the
accuracy of whole memory are almo9 unrival-
led, was expatiating few days lince in my pre-
fence, on the character and conduct of the ex-
Vice-Preiident. His obfervations were princi-
Pally confined TO the behaviour of Mr.. Burr,
during the presidential election in congrefs, in
Feb. 1901. For the Purpoie ofcxpiaining the
origin of many of the reports, relative to his
intriguing with the FederaliR5 for their 4,ote5,
which have been widely circulated and beev-
ed, this gentleman ftated variety of minute
incidents, iuitrated by the particularities of
time, and place, and perfon. Theft, | iha
neither pretend to recole6t nor defcribe. II
will be efficient, if l mention one or two pro-
mnent faGts.
Whilft this gentleman was at Warrington du-
ring the Taft winter, he applied to Mr.,
who Is at this time, and who was in 1901, We
~ ulltlHSHlEied federalllt I man, who derived
his influence not more from his very brilliant Ia
Tents, than from the very peculiar ffation, which
he occupied during the pending election. He
was intimately acquainted with all the move
ments of the federal party, and may be faid in
deed to have directed many of them. II was
this M. c. who informed my informant that
after feveral attempts had been made in vain.
(Which every one knows) to decide the election,
a caucus of the federaliits of Congrefs wa. held
to adopt fome ultimate refolution. Onthat &C
cation, Nc addreifed the meeting He ayoved
his belief that it was ufe!efs to put off the de-
cfion any longer, from any hope, that they
eouid elect Mr. Burr; that for his own part. he
had no knowledge, whether that gentleman had
come into their views Is. here, reader, let me
obferve that am uncertain whether he faid 70.
becaufe MIR. Burr had never been 7b5Eed TO. or
that he had refufed, when applied to bv the fe-
deralifts; and let me add, that though the dic
tinaion is peculiarly important, nv memory
has not retained which of thefe it was. that
took place during the whole of this buiinefs. '
and he concluded by calling upon any other
member prefent to come forward, who had a.
ny knowledge that Mr. Burr had come into
their views. No one avowed it, land here A.
gain let the reader obierve, that / am not GER
tain whether one aVowed it, or whether all
denied it, IF | do not miftake, 1t was after the
meeting of this caucus, that the ultimate deci-
fion took place: fome of the federal reprefen-
tatiorS putting in blank votes: and fome voting
for Mr.. JeherfoD, which had before voted for
Mr.. Burr.
Should this be the truth, then Wilt not fol.
low, that many of the fufpicons which have
been levelled againf Mr.. Burr, are without
foundation2 Let US once adopt this con-
clufon: and what a ftriking, and I will
add, what melancholy moral, may be
deduced from thefe dramatic incidents /?
A man of an admirable genius, and of exouilite
accomplishments is accufed in public paper
of conducting an ingenious intrigue, with an
unpopular party, for the purpofe Of rafting
himfef TO the frft Office in his country, without
and againf the with of the people. The editor
of that paper collects and accumulates the mott
circumfantial evidence, and the mon plauGible
arguments. His fuccefsis equal to his mott fam
guine expectations. All the republican papers
take the alarm: The whole country echoes with
the charge of apoRacy. Universal fufpicion
points its finger at him and the name of Aa-
ron Burr, like that of Benedia Arnold, be-
comes the ally of apoffacy and difhonor. And
yet after all thefe rumours, what turns out TO
be the truth of the cafe That the character
Of this man though not perfectly pure, is at leaf
untainted by the charges, which had accomplish
ed his downfall. What falutary example,
to impress us with the neceiIity of not yielding
our belief to every popular rumor, ofenquiring
before we finally decide, and of holding back
at leaf part of the punifhment until we have
fubhantiated the exifence of ambition beyond
the probability of doubt
Has then Aaron Burr been altogether guilt
efs 10 this tranfaaion? Are there no coloura-
bic circumstances on which to build fome
charge of ambition! Unfortunately there are.
Though the representation which | have given
be true, it will go no further than to releafe
him from the mott prominent charge brought
again9 him by " The American Citizen" of
New-Yort, viz. that he had carried on an in
trigue with the FederaliRs. 1t will only replace
him upon the ground which he occupied before
thefe charges were made. He will Till deferve
the criticifm previouily laid upon him. He
may hill be charged with want Of patriotifm,
with the abfence Of exalted fentinent, with a
dIreG deviation from all moral propriety, in
not announcing mof explicitly and unequivo-
cally to the FederalIits that he would not accept
of the proficiency, though they might cleo
} him. Silence at fuch mofnentous cri6s, wa:
treaion to the republican csue. If Mr.. Burr
bad made this explicit and instantaneous avow-