Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-10-23

wAsHrSoToN, 18th October, 1923.
My Dear Doctor: observe that some
of The jackson party ia Kentucky, for
the purpose of Withdrawing public atten.
ton from the alleged connection between
General Jackson and Colonel Burr.
have gotten up a charge against me, of
participation in the schemes of the latter.
have not. myself. thought it necessary
TO notice this new and groundless accu
sation, but, prompted by the opinions of
some of my friends, and actuated, also,
by the desire 10 giDdicate the memory
of an inestimaole bat departed friend,
who fell in the military service OF his
country, | communicate the following
statement, which you are at liberty &c
publish:
Public prosecutions were commenced
in the Federal Court of Kentucky a
gainst Col Burr, in the fall Of 1906. lie
applied 70 me, and engaged as bis coun-
sci, in conjunction with the late Colonel
John Allen, to defend him. The prose
cutions were conducted by the late Col.
Joseph Hamilton Davisss. man of ge-
Mus but Of strong prejuticos who was
such an admirer OF Col. Hamif On, that
after he had attained full age, he [Col.
d adopted part of his name as his
own Both Col. Allen and myself be-
lieved that there was no ground for the
prosecutions, and that Col. Baviess was
chiefly moved to institute them by his
admiration of Col Hamilton and hishs-
tired of Col Burr. Such was our conyic-
ton Of the innocence of the accused that
when be sent US a considerable fee. we
resolved to decline accepting il. and &C
cordingly returned il. We said 10 each
other Col Burr has been an eminent
member Of the profession, has been At
torney General OF the State of New
York, is prosecuted without cause. 10 a
distant State, and we ought not to re.
gard him in the light o! an ordinary cui-
prit. The first prosecution entirely fail
ed A second was shortly afterwards
Instituted. Between the two, was ap.
pointed Senator of the United States.
in consequence Of the relation to the
General Government, Col Burr who stii
wished me to appear fer him, addressed
the note to me Of which copy is here
with transmitted. accordingly again
appeared for him, with Col. Allen; and
when the Grand Jury returned the bill OF
indictment not trues scene was presea
ted in the Court Room which had nev.
er before witnessedin Kentucky. There
were shouts of applause from an audi.
ence. not one Of whom, | am persuaded
would have hesitated to level rife a.
.ganst Col Burr. if he believed that he
aimed TO dismembeI the unioa, or sought
20 violate its peace, OF overtura its Con-
stitution.
1t is not true that the professional SER
vices Of either Col Allen or myself were
volunteered, although they we're gratui
iou. Neither of us was acquainted with
any illegal designs whatever Of Colonel
Burr. Both of Us were fully convinced
of bis innocence. A better or drawer
man. or more ardent aud sincere pa
triot, than Col John Allen, never lived.
The disastrous field of Raisin, on which
be fell, attests his devotion to bis coun-
Try.
The affidavit ola MIR. John Downing
has been procured and published to
prove that I advised him to enlis, with
Col Burr, and that told him was 60
lnR Win DiHl UySSAi' mere is HOt Que
word of truth in it, so lar as it relates to
me. The ridiculous tale will be credited
by no one who knows both Of US. The
certificate of some highly respectable
men has been procured as to his chsrac
Ter. This affidavit bears date on the
ed. and the certificate, on detached
paper, on the 9Th instant 4 have no
doubt that it was obtained on false pre-.
fences, and with an entire concealment
of its object. was, at the period ofthe
last prosecution, preparing to attend the
Senate OF the United States, at the sea-
of Government, many hundred miles in
an opposite direction frsm that in which
it afterwards appeared Col. Burr was
bound. So far from having sent any
messsgeto Mr.. Downing, when / was
last in Lexington, I did not then even
dream tina. the malignity OF party spirit
could fabricate such a charge as has
been since put forth against me. IL is
not trse that was at the ball given TO
Col. Burr in Frankfort. was at the
time in Lexington 1t is not true that
he ever partook of the hospitality of my
L IL a A