The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-10-07
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
fRlpAy, ArRlL 9, 1908.
CASE or JoHN SMITH
SPEECH OF Mr.. GILES.
(coNrINuED.)

The first observation made by the gentleman
from Massachusetts, upon the contents of this
letter, was, that it appeared wonderful to him
tat this letter should have reinstatcd Burr in Mr..
Smiths good spinion, after some doubts of his
views had been excited in Mr.. Smiths mind, by
the general clamor of the country against him.
The impression produced upon my mind, by OBJ
serving the contents of this letter, 5 just the
verse think the letter written with great art
snd address, and we'll calculated to produce the
effect on Mr. Smiths mind, which he states it
did produce, the restoration of Burr to his con-
fdence. To form Just opinion on this point, il
should be recollected, that Burr had previously
ins;nmated himself into Mr. Smiths confidence,
and that MIR. Smith was not at that time appri-
sed Of his Illicit objects; because at that time
they were not generally disclosed; and because
j, appears from several passages in the letter A.
self, that Burr had not disclosed them to Mr.. S.
Since Burr's objects have been generally known,
we may find passages in the letter obscurely
pointing towards them; Of this description is the
one reierredto by the gentleman from Massachu.
setts-Speaking of the separation of the union,
Burr writes, =" Indeed have conception of "a
nv mode in which such measure can be promo
ted, except by operating on the minds of the
people, and demonstrating it to be their interest"
The very mode, says the gentleman, which he
was then pursuing This is very true, but of that
il is certainly not in proof that Mr.. Smith had a.
nv kno Wedge; and this letter serves to demon
stratc, in connection with many other circum-
stances, that he had not But in the very next
sen,r,,ur, d arr pa vvv,.,.S- written
or published a line on this subject, nor ever
expressed any other sentiments than those which
YOU may have heard from me in public companies
at Washington and elsewhere" Aud immedi-
-ateiy preceding it he thus writes If there ex-
lists any design to separate the western from the
eastern states, am totally ignorant of it ne
yer harbored or expressed any such intention to
any one, nor did any person ever intimate such
design to me-"
Now sir, take these sentences together, and
let.any candid mind say, civcumstanced as Mr..
Smith was in relation to Burr, whether it was
not perfectly natural for him to draw the concur
Sions he did! Whether these sentences do com
nunicate to Mr. Smith any illicit object on the
part of Burr Whether they do not contain
denial Of any intention or effort on his part to eff
feet separation of the union To my mind
they do. l not therefore surprised that Mr..
Smith drew the inference from them which he
did and l should have been much surprised in
deed, it from them alone he had drawn any infer
ence Of improper views on the part of Burr
said there were passages in this letter which fur
nished the Strongest presumption, that Mr. Burr
had not communicated his Illicit objects to Mr.
Smith. Let me now call the attention of the SEN
ate to some of them. One has been already
mentioned. After speaking of his intention 10
settle the Washta lands, Burr writes thus
have some other views which are personal mere
~, and which l shall have objection to state
to you personally, but which do not deem tine
cessary &c publish if these projects could any
way affect the interests of the United States, it
would be benefcially, &c. &c" If Burr had al
ready communicated his views TO Mr.. Smith,
why should he say in this letter, 81 shall haze
objection to state 70 you personality" certainly if
he had already stated them, this profession would
not only have been unnecessary, but foolish. Burr
again writes "This is the first letter of explana-
ton which Ihavo ever written to any man, & will
probably be the last. II was perhaps due to the
Tanl,ness ofyour character, & to the friendshpyou
once bore me. shall regret to see that friend
ship so greatly valued must be sacrificed on the
affairs of calumny. Be assured that no changes
on your part can ever alter my desire of being
useful to you, and pray you to accept my war
NEST wishes for your happiness Here follows
this lSstcript-", 1t may be an unnecessary eau
ton, but never write for publication" From
the whole tenor of this letter. the real connection
between Mr.. Smith and Burr, may be easily dis
cerncd but it is particularly demonstrated by
these last sentences. In them the real state Of
Burr's mind may be clearly seen. They discover
a man, conscious Of having abused the unguar-
ded confidence and misplaced friendship of ano.
Their; which he was about t. lose by the public
exposure OF his views They display despen
dency and regret at the circumstance, and at
tempt to make miserable atonement sv a re-
newal of professions They demonstrate too,
that there spGs participation in the consbiracy-
In further confederation of these conclusions, il
ought not to escape notice, that on Burr's ext
visit to Cincinnati, he looked for lodgings at ia
vern and avoided MIR. Smiths hospitality, which
would doubtless have been still open to him he
having been more successful in regaining Mr.
Smiths confidence, by the artful letter written
by him than he had expected. This, / believe.
10 he the plain, Obvious and natural import of this
letter To suppose that it was the effect of
pTeconcetted arrangement between Burr and
M. Smith, and intended to disguise the real con-
nection between them, would be strained, i'm
probable, unnatural superstition, and therefore in
my judgment, ought not to be relied upon in any
but especially upon question of guilt Or
innocence. The postscript Of the letter itself,
furnishes another strong presumption against
this conclusion.
The next circumstance in point OF time, from !
(which differences injurious to Mr.. Smith are
drawn, Happened on the Cd or Sd of December.
at frankfort, in Kentucky. At this time and
place, Burr was attending on the court upon his
second trial Mr.. Smith was drawn thither by
business, when short interview took place be-
tween himself and Burr, very immaterial in its
objects or consequences. The ground of Grim.
nation deduced from this circumstance is that
Mr-Sihth did not voluntarily attend the court as
witness against Burr, and testify to the disclo |
surcs which Burr had made to him upon his last |
visit 20 Cincinnati. Mr.. Smith stated az the time
his willingness TO attend, but believed he knew
nothing relevant to the ground Of charge against
Burr