Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-03
FRoM THE CHARLESTON COURIER.
COPY OF A LETTER.
From the Hon Joseph Aston, to His Ex-
cel)enCy Charles Pnckney.
OAKS, February 6, 1907.

NONtfStftIfff
from col. Burr, to gen. Wilkinson, cxcites
my unfeigned astonishmcnt. / solcmnly a.
vow that, when that letter was writ
ten, ! had never heard, directly or in
directly, from col. Burr or any other per-
son, of the mcditated attack on New Or
leans; nor had any more reason to sus-
pect an attack on that place, or auv other
part of the u. States, than have, at this
moment, TO suspect that our militia will be
! Forthwith ordered on an expedition against
! Gibraltar. On the other hand, had long
had strong grounds for believing that col.
! Burr was engaged by other objects, of n
very different nature from those attributed
to him, and which ! confess the best senti-
mcIts Of my heart approved. ] need not
add, that those objects involved no. the in
tcrcst of my country. Without ldverting
to that integrity of principle which even
, my energies, trust, have allowed me, can
it be supposed that a man situated as am,
descended from family which has never
/ known dishonor, happy in the affection and
esteem OF large number Of relations and
friends. possessed of ample fortune, and
standing high in the confidence of his fell
lOw-citizens, could harbor for an instant, a
thought injurious to the country which was
the scene of those blessings? The suppo-
sition would be monStrous. No Sir: 1t was
but short period before the impression be-
came general, that apprehended the hossi-
| 6iHty of Mr.. Burr's intentions being hostile
to the Union; and the moment which gave
birth to that apprehension, gave birth TO
the resolution which became a citizen. |
confess, however, there are times even now
when, in spite of the streng facts which have
been exhibited, am almost inclined to be-
lieve my suspicious injurious Whatever
may he thought of the heart of Mr.
Burr, his talents are great beyond uucsti-
on and to reconcile with such talents, the
chimerical project of Remembering the
1 Union, or wrestling from it any part of it's
territory, is difficult indeed | travelled
/ through part ofthc Western Country, du-
ring the last summer, and have no hcsita-
! tion IN saying, that either of those projects
would have bcenas mitch rcprobated there
as in the Atlantic States. With respect,
| however, 20 the communication annexed TO
the Presidents Message, which occasions
| YOU the trouble Of this letter; after NV So
/ Icmn assurances II you. that / had never gi-
! ven col. Burr or any ether person the small
| lest reason to imagine that ] could be in
dIcad TO engage in any project against my
/ country; it would be infinitely satisfactory
/ to me, could ! explain to YOU, with the
same certainty, the motiUe which led him
to introduce my name as he did. Bat here.
! unfortunately all is cOniecturc.-Two mo-
tivcs only suggest themselves. re imagin-
! cd perhaps, which, by the way, lie had NC
right to do--that his influence would be
sufficiently great to induce my as>eHt, and
thought, therefore, he might as we'll COL
@!.!oT >, ;,i-cady obtained: Or, which is
more probable, he might have imagined
that by the apparent concert oTa number
ofherSouS tram dGtreHt states, a stron-
gerimhression 7vouid 6c m4de ution his cor
rc$h0adcHt. Considerable efcct, too, was,
no doubt, anticipated by Mr.. Burr's dis
ccrnmcnt from the perfect self confidence
which would have been manifested bv his
taking with him his daughter, receiving my
co-oppcration, and thus embarking in the
scheme the fortunes ofhis infant grandson
the only relative, except his daughter,
that he has. But, whatever the motive,
which drew from col. Burr, the assertions
contained IN his letter to gen. Wilkinson {;
: facts incontroyertible facts, prove that he
had no authority for making them. His
daughter did not 20 with him the navy of
the u. $. is still faitbftL 10 its d3ttV; com
mO1orC Truxton, lam told, at the very mo-
ment he was said to have gone 20 the West
Indies, 7Oas 70 Phiiaicihhia, which / know
not whether heha ever left; and !, instead
ot following with cOrfS o. worthieS, am
NOIO ar nv NGNW Te8IIcUce Tv6eTc ! NuUG
been eUcr aiHce The uij2urumcnt ofihe Lc-
gisiafUrc, peaccably di citing The ploughing
of my ricc-helds & preparing my lands tor
the cushing crop-This is conclusive. A
conspirator against the happiness or liber-
ties his country, would have been, at this
moment, very differently employed. Con-
spirator! the blood that burns my check, as
| write the word-but | meant TO confnc.
myself simply to the dis9vowal, have made
YOU Ut sin Il ito ORE sought h, st lc 10 my
country. To feel even that disavawal ne
cessary sufficiently painful | have Weld
ed, however, to circumstance, and made
1t. Ny uncquivocal manner Of making it.,
! trust will not leave doubt upon one can
did or honest mind. Still am aware that
the common interchange of good Offices,
with a man with whom | have been long
nearly connected, may have given rise to
circumstances which, however innocent in
themselves, malignity wi delight in distcr-
ting, ana the iijbcral among my political
adversaries eXult in disseminating. / ain
q aware that there will be men base enough
, for you and Ihave, not iong since, seen
{ proofs of ito whisper even the circum-
! stance OF my connection, by D1arriagc, with
col. Burr, as q circumstance warrauting
8HghicioH. About the opinions ofsuch men
am indifferent To the more ingenious