Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-08-02
JACKSON AND BURR.


two avermsnts-irs that en-. Jackson speaking in ref
erence to Burrs expedition said to him. that he could
If he would accept it, obtain commission of Captain
and secondly thai Cen Jackson subso quenty remarked
10 INN, Take notice, gentlemen, you will find that
division OF the United States has taken deep root &c
Granting these observations been correctly un
dorstood andteported, which, bearing mind that Will
ans unable to recoect what he had written to Kerr
but two months before is at least doubtfut may be
easily sewn that their character and ofcouse their
ceptbhty of being construed into the evidence Of guilt
depend entirely on their respective dates
1t liz well known that for n considerable time after
Barr had indicated hsnention of'cng aging in South
ofn e1pedltionatter indeed no had notoriously
mcnced Interpretations, hA real object suspect
ed but was supposed by almost every only extend
to an ncursion upon settlement in the Spanish ter
fitory?a project in which it generally believed he
was if not encouraged at least opposed by his own
Under this impression many most patriot
ic and respectable men Joined him End many moro
sociated with him, and paid him the respect due his
high standing, Without the slightest suspicion of his
sonabe intentions 1t was indeed considerable time
before his real designs became known The station
which he had bat recently occupied in the govern
mont his character, and his address, all consped to
ate and to continue the deception Gen Jackson along
with others decoived-how he at length became
aware designs, shall hereafter have occasion
to show.
If we be correct in this view Of the subject or rater
IN this historical detail nothing be necessary
to satisfy the minds of the most prejudccd that
asserted the construction to be placed those imputed
remarks of Gen Jackson must depend entirely on the
time when they occurred. If the first expressed
before he became undcccivcd and the Inter afterwards
then all must admit that they prove nothing his pre-
dice 1t only by assuming that the alleged offer tho
captancy took place after Gen Jackson became acquant
ed with Burrs designs to the Union-n other
words by connecting his observations that his guilt
is inferred We have much to say, we con-
scentiousy believe that at the time of the first remark
Burrs true object unknown to General Jackson
And IA these remarks adducod in support of the
charge it is clearly incumbent those who rely on them
to prove that they occurred the times assumed by
them otherwise they afford evidence in their favor
No such proof has been oerod and therefore have
the right to coacudc in tho absence of all proof on the
subject that they occurred at the times believe them
to have taken place. and when they entirely inno
cent But we will go farther, and express the opinion
that Willamss statement if it does not prove least
clearly indicates that these made at tho
times supposed by As tho 6rst he expressly says
it was before Mr. JcFer,ons proclamation and that
in relation to what was attcr,cards called con-
spracy" If at the time of its occurrence neithor gov
eminent individuals apprincd of Burrs designs
If rumor cv,n had not called his scheme conspiracy
we arc utterly unable to perceive how Gen jackson
be to have penetrated his object and upon this
violent prssuptionbc held responsible for observation
which. at that time, any other in tho nation might
have DhoceniY made As to the last remark ascrbed
Con Jackson, Williams admits it was after,oards .
that s after the first and therefore even be concod-
ed that i was made it assuredy cannot be connected
with the first If have been the case occurred
after he became acquainted with Burr's object, it shows
that he was the first to proclaim his designs and
warn his friends against them.
This letter, then, admitting every word oft to bo true
does not crimnao Cen Jackson in tho slightest degree
In the language of Williams, it could not havo been
otherwise than altogether satisfactory TO the General,
$50 far at least it implicated his chsracter though he
may not have been satisfied to the accuracy Of its
statements"
We have been informed that Tor ,ny years aor gu
sp7cy Judge williams remained intimate with Gen. Jackson
o could not therefore, HIMSELF have believed in the charge which
makes.
II by En1uiror tina, Judge williams
few days alter jackson had offered him eapancy Bus
Io 70 ns reaton Oo John Williams communicating the TACT
which prevailed that Jackson with Burr,
says tbat Tor his part no acted principle which shall always
govern ms conduct OF condemning Individual
tcstuOag dsepasGcd suspicious
And If tho Enquirer the Judge Williams speaks
truth Col Williams informed of which
a5 evidence Of Cen Jaekson guilt ina few days after its
|
r1rss No, believed ~ its athor orh- rson v-ho said TO
- ais insgof aa, scarcely bisycd f. any