The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-05-08


The laft Virginia Gazette contains vindica-
ton of A. Burr, which deierves attention mere
~ fron the importance of the fubjed to which
1t relates. Without meaning TO pats any par
ticular opinion upon the guilt or Innocence of
Burr, we may be permitted to remark, that
either his viudicator is extremely feeble or that
the argument which he has made for him is I'M
tenabe.
The indicators hypothesis is, that Col. B.
" intended, III CAFE Of quar- 9vit6 Spain, to
have led an army of volunteers into Mexico"
1t would be difficult for any man to eonceiye
the numbcrleis afiurnptions, contrad6tions, and
errors, into which the necetiity of ju!tifyng
this conduct has betrayed the author.
According to this Vindication, an individual
may SNAKE advances towards the attainment
OF Objects, which desrl,rI TO be oppofed by
the government; becauie they might difturb
the political relations and ties which exittcd be-
tween this government & Spain"-without any
I" injury to his character or fation an man ?'
In pain language, man may take tePs to
plunge his country into a war, without violating
his duty as man or a citizen. He may at
tempt to conquera crown in Mexico, which
is not the leis magnificent and honorable for
hImteit' becanie II is in its acquihtion faned
with the blood Of his own countrymen. He
may knowingly violate the laws of his country !;
one of which laws forbids his preparing an ex-
petition aganlt the pofeons of Spain; he
may plunge his country into war he May
raiie body OF volunteers, unconditional by
his country he may tern pirate upon land (;
If captured by the enemy he may be treated as
an Infamous pirate and not as an honorable
prifoner of war but by none of thefe acts
does he forfeit his character or ftation as a
man ;" or violate the folemn duties of a good
citizen.
But war appeared TO be inevitable p" the
political atmotphere of the country was, as it
were, filled with war;" Even admit the fup-
petition that we had AT that time ferrous and
threatening cauies Of dffurbsnce with Spain !;
what does this argument prove that at this
crfs peculiarly fraugbt with delicate embauaH-
ment, and vibrating as it were, between peace
and war,--any individual was to be permitted
to ltep forward and plunge his country into the
gulph of war, on Whole brisk lhe was tottering,
but from which the good ienie of his govern
ment might have ultimately riiqued her? Ger
tainly not. At fuch delicate time, it was
more peculiarly the huiineis of individuals to
keep alOof and to leave every thing to the
found and unihackled ditcretion of the conft-
tnted authorities. In proportion as the war
ieemed immHeut, it was A. Burr's or any
mans duty TO obierve a more cautious oircum-
tpeGtion. In proportion to the number of i'm
portant points which government had to adult
with SPAN, it was the duty of good citi-
zen 10 beware how he added to the heap, AND
how he fomentcd the jealoufy of Spain.
1t is the duty Of good citizen to eon[uL for
the good OF his country and never - to turn
his mind to foreign project" until he had
calculated its eiftd upon the political relations
OF his country. Surely thele are coufdera-
tons which belonged" to Col. Burr, as well as
to /" Others, from whofe confidence and con-
Germs he WAS banlfhod forever" Yet with
what face can his advocate pretend to alledge,
that " it was no part of his duty to know,
whether any other fate of things might be
brought TO pats by a different policy ?'-This
argument alb ignorantia might be plead in uRi-
hcatlon OF the mott enormous crimes. A man
who hnds purie on the high way might con-
ic'tntioully pocket 1t, on the ground that " it
was no part OF his duty to know" the real own
or. 1t is " Aattcrug untiion" that many A
criminal would be glad 10 L" lay TO his Soul"
No man has a right to undertake an enter
prize, which he has reafon TO fear would be in
furious to his country and it is his duty to
leek Tor every means OF information which may
iDitruct him in her interehs.-Thefe are conf
deraiion5 which equally belong to the peafant
buried in the deepett illades OF retirement, As
to the man who is admitted into :" the coun-
c'IS OF bis country" The only difference be.
tween them ~, that the ftateiman has better
means OF Information than the peafant; but il
is equally the duty of both to attempt to knozu
1t is one of the firft duties of a good citizen
10 obey tie laws. We have fome Law TO pre-.
icrIbe the duties which are required in the DO.
iom OF our Country: we have others to afcertain
the duties which are owing To- foreign govern
mRnts. Among the laf, is the law that punilh-
es any preparations for an expedition againA the
Poheiiions Of foreign power with whom the
w. o. are 1t peace. Without fuch prohibition,
expeditions might be continually failing from
our ports agalaft the European colonies, who
i9rround us: Iuceilant jsaloufes, fulpi-
clons, aud quarreis with the mother countries
iin'gh1 inevitably eniue. Such a law therefore
Is not i|i5 neceilary to orr own tranquility,
than as token OF the brotherhood ana friend
mp winch We owe to Foreign Natons.-knd
yet we arc now told, that it is fuch A law =,
may he infrlnged by good citizen without
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