Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-12-02
From the National Gazette
COLONEL BURR.

The second volume Of Mr.. Daviss Life Of Burr
has just been published. Aside from the literary
blemishes of this work and the singular want Of
skilful arrangement which is SO essential to a
memoir, there is much in this volume to COM
mand very general interests. 1t is no very high
praise to say that Mr.. Davis has mprov ed much
on his first volume, and has exhibited a stock of
historical materials which justities tho anxious
curiosity that the nnunciation Of this biography
excited. The pernsal of this volume will have a
tendency. We think, to elevate Colonel Burr in
public estimation, and at least, to satisfy all
doubts 5 to the merits of one portion Of those
who so virulently prosecuted him. All who
have studied, Or who remember that period of our
history, will now acknowledge that the bitter de-
nunciations Of Mr.. Jefferson and his immediate
partIzans were wholly undeserved, and that in
settling the balance of merit, he who fell will
stand quite well as he who triumphcd. The
heart of the sacrificial priest not lot purcr
more yIrtuous than that of the victim. Burr
was unlucAy and Mr.. Jefferson was lucky, and
there in lay the difference between them. Mr.
DavIss review of the circumstances attending
the election Of 1901, if it dev clopes nothing
new, Is interesting a summary of the testi-
momy which had been already given. There are
two circumstances referred to. which NAV be cas-
lily authenticated, which initiates as strong a.
gainst MIR. Jefferson as any thing we have ever
seen. One, at least, is new to We refer to
the suppression of the irregularity of the Geor-
Sid Urn Oh the vote lOr ffeSlOent IN lSUl. bV
Mr. Jefferson, and to the pal pable breach of faith
to DIR. Bolimaii, in obtaining from him paper un-
der solemn promise that il should never be pat
ted with, and then surrendering it to the District
Attorney. to be used in Grim nation of the writer
Every thing. in fact. this volume serves to cor
roborate the unfayorab!e opinions, which reflect
ing minds must now entertain of Mr. Jeffer-
sons partizan course, and to fix the estimate of
the morals Of his politics.
Mr.. Davis adduces testimony to show that Col
Burr did not actively interfere to promote his own
election by the House of Representatives. and
so far as this is material makes out his case. He
shows too by documents. which seem to be now
to some of our contemporaries, that Mr.. jefferson
did not abstain from active interference But he
seems to lose sight of the important point that
Col. Burr did not interfere to put an end to the
contest, and BY word (fcr nothing more was ne
cessary) to aay the excitement which such an
unexpected conflict naturally produced To us
1t has always semeed clear that Burr's tacit ac-
quiescence in the attempt to cheat the popular
will by availing himself of the accidental e.
quality of votes, the substantial cause Of his
political downfall: and that the fatal catas,rophe
of 1904 had far less efficiency than has been
generally attributed to it. The defeat of Bur,
the contest with Gov. Lewis, one effec, Of the
political treason in 1901, made him desperate
man-and no one who reads the correspondence
with 0so. Hamilton can doubt that the duel was