The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-03
Nbe Gnlulrsr.
RICHMOND, Sd FEBRUARY.
COMMUNICATION.


rite abode of b" fteady habits 20 Benedict Ar
mold, and Aaron Burr {: and if, as the Aurora
lays, the only member of the p-rfrnt admnifra-
ton, who comes from that nate, is alfo falfe to
ms country, the feat of true religion will have
the honor, of third traitor to b..aR. The
guilt of Burr no longer reits upon rumour: we
have the higheh official authority, that he is 4
traitor. " ll'-weav'd ambition, how much art
thou ihrunk ~ He who thought 10 lit upon
the throne of Mexico, it is not impoffibIe NAV
end his career upon gibbet. But guilty as
THIS man is, Juftice has not been done him be-
caute he is now vicious, it is concluded that he
was always 70 and, becaufe he is detected, his
icheme is pronounced extravagant and mprac-
ticah'e. That Burr was not always vicious,
think is proven by his long and teady attach
ment to the Republican party. That he could
nave been influenced, IN this attachment bv anv
but dliinterelted motives, think is nearly i'm
poihole. 1t was far above the reach of mortal
ken, to predict, or forefee, at the time alluded
to, whether federal or republican principles
fhonld triumph but, 70 far as the then appear
ances could be relied on as any indication of
the future, the federal party had every profpect
or fuccets; they were actually in power; they
appealed 70 the felf-love Sethe vices of mankind
the republicans to the bencvolence & the virtues
of mankind-" fearful ods!'' 1t has ALWAYS
been the opinion of the writer of this, that the
federal party defeated tfrlf, and that if HamiI-
ton Inttead Of Adams had fucceeded Wafhing
ton, Jetferton would never have been feated in
the presidential chair. Such being the appear
ances OF things, he who attached himftlf to the
weak, the powerlefs, and, at that time the un
popular party, must have been fincere. Z" But
how this change :" 1t requires no climaeter,
to effect a change in the human charaSter: {"
little month";" is frequently fufiicient The
writer of this has witnefied the courfe of Mr..
Burr's conduct, 70 far as the public prints have
developed, for the lalt or 6years. WheH Burr
found, contrary to all expectation, that he had
an equality of votes, for the prefidential chair,
with Mr.. Jefferfon in lsoo-1, he could not relilt
the temptation, offered by the federalifs of per.
hitting his name to be ufed as an opponent of
Mr.. Jeflerfon; this excited the fufpcion of ma
ny republicans, and routed the mott Jealous
anmotity and rivalihip towards Burr among
the Cintons of Newly rk, they fucceeded in
running Burr, as politician, in the eRimation
of nine out of ten of the republican party up
on the back of this follows the death of Genera!
Hamilton, in duel by his hand; he is forced to
hy---never to return---and Burr becomes as
much villain ash his greateft enemy could with
" Why was he really villain % Becaufe the
world thought him fo---for of all the efforts of
which human nature is Capable, beyond all
companion the greateft is TO remain virtuous,
when man or woman has loft the reputation of
being 70. Let every perfon predicate partcu-
lar vice or inhrmty of any one, and he or fhe
will mott likely make their words good. The
writer of this, in the courfe of his experience has
known two of the other fex, and one of his own
who have difplayed this godlike forttudc ::
Burr could not !: He is loft.
Neither was Burr's fchcme extravagant or inn
practicable; he owes detection to the virtue and
vigilance of the administration, and not to his
own want Of fkil in favouring his plans and
carrying them into execution. Had he been
able to put the fmallef force in motion: to
have commenced the march of an army, howe
yer fmal; he could not but have had partial
iucceis; viz: the plumber and conqueft of Mex
leo. As to the feparation of the country welt
ward of the Allegheny, from the union, that we
believe to have been always imprafcable; and
If Burr, really medtated the plot with which
gen. Eaton has charged him, his infantry can
only exceed his treachery. But | repeat that
the conqueft of Mexico by very fmall force is
practicable. The iituation of an army that
ihouId undertake this expedition, would be the.
reverfe of that, in which conquering armies ufu-
ally are: they ufual'y deersaJE at every ftep
bot an army that ihould undertake the conduct
of the Spanill poiIeiiions in North mefica,
would mereaye at every Rep: the only danger
would be the lofts of battle mankind have an
irreiRibe propenhty to join the ftrongen and
mott prosperous party. If Burr could have or
ganized an army of 5000 defperadoes, (and
fuch only would have Joined him) had he loft
the firh battle, he and his followers would
have been anuihilatcd had he gained it before
he reached Santa Fe, his army would have
amounted to $4,000 nrong, fnihed with fuc-
cefs; eager for plumber ambitious of glory;
the Gttet inftruments which could be feeGted
to defpoiI the Spaniards of their fair poGefions
in the weaern world forming return to re-
guar indufry; A licentious baud Of mercena.
ries, iuted to an aaveHturer like Burr: with
fons and fires, would indeed drink up the loud
deipair of fhrieking chatty." After fuch fuc-
ceAes had Burr bent his ftcps towards the foutb
we cannot fee any bounds to his career
but the ftraights Of Magellan: But had he
turned his courie towards the north, to turn
congreis out of doors, and aIalIiEdte our venera-
BILE prelident he would have found his grave
in his native foil, the field Of battle, or under
the gaows. Where he will end it now, can
not be told but certainly his doom referves
him for more wrath" Thus dreadful is the
puDifhment Of Treafop How peaiing the
reward of patriotifm Look at Mr. Jefferfon's
letter to General Starke, and we ihall fee a
part of that reward. 1t was faid by Cicero,
and has been quoted an hundred times fnce,
that praife is only to be valued when it
is benowed by one VIZ, is himfelf deferving
of praiie how precious then mutt have
been this tribute from fuch man az Mr..
Jeferfon to fuch a man as Gen. Starke IL