Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-07

g. L DUNCAN.
CYfuoC RicAmona, SCI.
FOR THE ARGUS.
G 0 MuNIcArLo

r 0 II II NIChTI ON.
DURING the trial Of Col. furr and his
accompices, he has been repeatedly he'd
mp IN court and out of doors, as the mno-
cent ADD prosecuted victim oil tue govern
mcnt Why should the government per
secule Col. Burr? Did he occupy a stand
in the estimation Of the people, which could
ever have made him dangerous 20 the go
vernment by the acquisition Of power Con-
stitutional!y obtained NO AS political
character, he had fallen, never TO rise a.
gain. He had TT ed his fortunes with Dulh
parties, and had been completely ABANDON
ed by both. BY his intrigues and aasidn.
ties, he had been brought forward by the
republican parry As VIC -pIe'id Mt, at
time, when all America, except some or
the adherents OF Mir. Adams, had ioJ&cdup
TO the sreat and good Mr. Jefferson, IS the
political savior OF his country a. tj.e man
who alone cou d bring US buck to mat pure
standard OF rcpuDiican'sm from which We
bad gradually been diverg ng, during tnc
TWO preceding administrators PGHcy, ia
not desert,Dg orr sister state 0f New York,
and not an admiration of the virtue, che
talents, or pure dsntcres,ed patriot sn OF
colonel 3Hrr, iwFoaed rim upon the rePub-
! ilcan eieCtors OF Virginia. Had this eu-
! hghtened and virturus assem-. ge Of men
/ consulted their own judgmen; or &C ings,
he would have gotten but few votes as wee
/ president, and not a solitary OHc rs presl-
! dent. Yet he had the e!frontery to act, as
! if lie had been presented 10 congress with
an equal numjer of votes with Mr.. Jeiicr-
/ son, for the Office OF President. He per-
mitted this language to be used OF the floor
of congress By tie federal SIS for many days,
without possessing the magnan!mity, bold
I iy to present himself IL the bar Of tue house
and to disclaim all prctcrsions 10 the pre-
siGency. A man Of political integrity ana
OF republican principles would instantly
have put an end to the rid culous tarce
which had 50 lOny been playing--a farce
which not only might have leOpdrtized the
detection OF Mr.. Jefferson, the ayoWed choice
of the people but which held up our re-
publican institutions to the derislon ct all
KIrope. What would have been the con-
duct Of a man more viTtuous but less IN
trignng than Col Burr No sooner had
the sentiment been uttered IN the floor OF
congress, that he was equally tho choice
OF tine people with Mir Jefferson, for the
office of President, than he would have
made the most eNpl cit disavOwSl OF IT,
lie won Il nave declared that, under ~,
circumstances, would he have acted as
president, because nc we'll knew that the
! people never contemplated him as such
10 this memorable struggle, we may trace
, that deep-rCofed hatred, conceived by
f Burr towards Hamilton, which finally ter
MINATED M the death OF the atter. IT Is
. well known that Hamilton, tho IL end :,
= energetic governments opposed openly th'
. rc-eiection of Mr.. Adams. 1t is equally
we'll known, that he was not friend t'
, Mr.. Jefferson; but that he greatly pre-
. ferred him IN colonel Burr; because he
. believed that MIR Jefferson was sincere u
! his professions, and would act mp 20 them
/ IN colonel Burr he had no confidence. a
t few passing years have evinced that ria
, milton thought correctly. That same Goi