Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-01-18
Extinct from Davis Memo

Extract from Davis Memoirs.
Aaron Burr's Gallantry.-" Major Burr,
while yet at college had acquired reputa.
ton for gallantry. On this point he was
excessively vain, and regardless Of all those
ties which ought to control an honorable
mind. In his intercourse with females he
was an unprincipled flatterer, ever prepared
to take the advantage of their weakness,
their credulity, or their confidence. She
that confded in him was lost. In referring
to the subject no terms Of condemnation
would be too strong to apply to Col. Burr.
1t is truly surprising how any individual
could have become so eminent as soldier,
statesman, and professional man, who
devoted SO much time to the other sex as
was devoted by Col. Burr. For more than
half a century of his life they seemed to
absorb his whole thoughts. Ills intrigues
without number. His conduct was licen-
tious. The sacred bonds of friendship
were unhositatingly violated when they
operated as barriers to the indulgence of
his passions. For long period of time he
seemed to be gathering, and carefully pre-
serving, every line written to him by any
female, whether with or without reputation !;
and when obtained, they were cast into one
common receptacle, the profligatc and cor
rupt, by the side of the thoughtless and be.
trayed victim. All was held as trophies of
victory,-all esteemed alike valuable
How shocking to the man Of sensibility |!
How Notifying and notwithstanding to the
intellectual, the artless, the fallen fair.
Among the manuscripts were many of
the productions of highly cultivated minds.
They were calculated to excite the sympa.
thy of the brother-the parent-the hus.
band. They we're indeed, testimonials of
the weakness of the weaker sex, even
where genius and learning would seem to
be towering above the arts of the seducer.
Why they were thus carefully preserved,
is left to conjecture. Can it be true that
Moore is correct when in his life of Lord
Byron he says, The alusion which he
(Byron) makes TO instances of successful
passion in his career, were not without their
influence on the fancies of that sex, whose
weakness it is to be most easily won by those
who come recommended by the greatest
number of triumphs over others? Some
of these productions had been penned more
than sixty years. They were all commit
ted to the flames, however, Immediately of.
ter the decease of Col. Burr. OF them it
is believed, 'not wreck remains
The faithful biographer could not pass
over in silence this strong and revolving
trait in the character of Col. Burr. 1t will
not again be referred to. From details, the
moralist and the good man must shrink
with disgust and adherence. In this par.
ticular, Burr appears to have been unfeel.
ing and heartless. And yet by fascna-
ting power almost peculiar to himself, he
so managed as to retain the affection, in
some instances the devotion, of his deluded
victims. In every other respect he was
kind and charitable. No man would 90
farther to alleviate the sufferings of another.
No man was more benevolent. No man
would make greater sacrifices to promote
the interest or the happiness of friend
How strange and inconsistent, how con.
flicting are the allusions They are never.
theless strictly true.