The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-06-03
MONDAY, May IS.

"AO"Dhi, Way 20.
Continuation Of TIE Debate, on Mr.. Hays' me.
ton TO commit ERrcn Burr.
AT this moment the Grand Jury returned
into court, and their names being called over,
requeited an adjournment. After fome doful-
tory conversation between their Foreman and
the Chief Jufice, refpecting certain points OF
form, they were accordingly adjourned till to-
morrow 10 o'clock.-They Immediately re-
tired from the court, when MIR. Hay arofe to
proceed wiki the arsument.-He Rok,, in /n5-
RGnec as foliozvs:
aand here, fir, engaged in the performance
Of a noa ferrous duty. appear here in a
caufe, which involves the character of CIV 20.
vernmeut. / come here TO charge Aaron Burr
with High Treafon asaina the u. States with
chewing war" upon his country. Sir, it was
natural to fupPofe, that fuch ferrous charee
would have made mott ferrous impreflion up
on A. BIS mind that he would have routed all
the energies of his understanding in his f,rvice ;
in indicating himfelf againit fuch heinous
charges, and not in eating imputa.ions upon
the government. Why then. fl, does he turn
from himfelf againft the administration. Why
tbefe complaints of perfecutioD, which have
fatigued our ears? i mott folemnly deny the
charge. mott confidently avow, that there
is not little of evidence to fupport it. None
be produced, unefs it be perfecution, that
the government brings him before legal tribu
nal, where his guilt &, innocence will be imparti-
ally etabfhed. A. Burr itands accuied of the
highelt crimes and mfdemeanors he ftands
charged with deliberate defign of involving
his country in all the horrors of civil infur-
rection, or of entangling her in war with 4
foreign nation. This is the true qucfion be-
fore the court and inltead of meeting this
charge with the energy and firmnefs which be-
came him; Dfead of confronting it with his
evidence he complains forfooth of perfecution.
And where, fir, is this tremendous perfecution
"Gccaufe he was fent here by military au-
thoriIy? But could A. Burr have been tri-
cd in the country where he was arrefted Was
BIannerhahett's Hand in the Minif1ippi Terri
tory? Or ought he not to have been convey
ed to that judicial difrSt, which ponehed a
competent jurifdiction? But if A. Burr ought
70 have been fent here, by what number of men
ihould be have been efcorted? Was it by one
man only; from whom he could have been 70
calily rilqusd, and whole vigilance he could
mott probably have eluded Or ought he to
have been conveyed, as he really was, by the
energy Of men, like Perkins, whole unfhrinking
frmnefs and whole humanity lin the prcfence
of Il. Burr himfelf, ayow it let him deny it, il
he can J had completely qualified him for the
fate transportation of lis prifoner?
But, FIR, when this cry and fpell Of perfe-
IutIOh dlS OhtC cHCIiFOs I is not cary 10 let
bounds to its fury? Not coniented with in
Weighing againR the pretended perfecution OF
the gOvernment-a government, which never
did perfecute--a governments, which cannot
perlccute. and which will forever ftand firm
in the affections Of the people, from the into.
gritty and intelligence which mark its meafures
not contented with layilhing their complaints
againR it, the council for the prfoner have
even turned agsinG the humble ipfirumeBts
who conduit the profecuticn. They fsriogay
complain, that we have given them no prcvi.
Gus notice OF this moton-and thefe are the
very men, who have 70 often offered motion,
TO this court, without the nightel intimatior
to ourielves.-Sir, ! mott politively anert
that no notice in the prcfent cafe ought to have
been given. ! fha!l not pretend TO aiTert, that
a. Burr was difpofcd under the prefent Rate
ct things, TO eRe6t his efcape: But | fay, that
iuppoiing iuoh to have been the fact, and fup.
pofng that, awaiting himfelf Of the information
which we had impaired, he lhould have taken
10 Tight ; ] appeal to the candor of every i'm
partial man; appeal 10 the candour Of the op-
polite council themfelves, whether fhould
not have been guilty Of a moft grois violation oil
my duties.
But fbey fay, he ought not to be committed
becauie the preienee of the Grand Jury fuf.
ponds the authority of this court. But where
are the presidents which juaify this petition