Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-01-04
AARON BURR.

tor oi the OlhciDnatIi OaZctte, Is most
instructive one. am one, of perlIp s the
few that never gave any credence to the
charge of treason against him. He sought
| am firmly persuaded, only 10 do that
which American citizens are now doing in
Texas with the appreciation of their coun.
trymen. He was marked for destruction
and destroyed. History burst not tell for
whom nor for what.
When his term as Vice President expired,
he took leave of the Senate in manner
that made the deepest impression. The
scene was represented as altogether extra.
ordinary. Almost every senator found him.
SELF dissolved in tears.
The following account of it was given
in the Washington Federalist, then printed
in Washington City:
On Saturday the I'd inst. March 1909
DIR. Burr took leave of the senate--this
was done at time when thc<doors were
closed, the senate being engaged in execu-
tive business, and Of course there were no
spectators. 1t is however, universally "a d
to have been the most digni6ed, sublime,
and impressive that was ever uttered and
the effect which It produced justified those
epi'hets. | will give you the best account
have been able to obtain from the senators
Of several states, as well Federal as Repub-
ican.
Mr.. Burr began by saying that he in.
tended to pass the day with them, but the
increase of slight indisposition, (sore
throaD had determined him to take his
leave Of them. He touched slightly or
some of the rules and orders Of the House
and recommended in one or two points, al
terations, of which he briefly explained the
reasons and principles.
He thdn said that he was sensible that
he must at times have wounded the feelings
of individual members. He had ever avoid.
ed entering into any explanations at the
time, because moment of irritation was
not the moment for explanation; because
his posts n (bcing in the chair) rendered it
impossible to enter into explanations with.
out obvious danger of consequences which
might hazard the dignity Of the senate, or
prove disagreeable OF injurious in more
than one point of view. That he had there.
fore, preferred to leave TO their reflections
his Justification; that on his part he had no
injuries to complain Off any had been
done or attempted, he was ignorant Of the
authors, and if he had ever heard of them,
he had forgotten them. for he thanked God
he had no memory for injuries. He doubt
ed not but they had found occasion 10 OBJ
serve that to be prompt was not therefore
to be preciptate, and tina: 10 act without
delay was not always TO act without rcflec-
tion-that error was often to be preferred
TO indecision-that his errors whatever
they might have been were those Of rule
and principle, and not of caprice that it
could not be deemed arrogance in him TO
say, that in his official conduct, he had
known no party-no cause-no friend.
That if, in the opinion Of any, the disci.
pine which had been established approach
ed to rigor, they would at least admit that
j, was uniform and indiscriminate.
He further remarked that the ignorant
and unthinking affected 10 treat as unne-
cessary and fastidious rigid attention to
rules and decorum but tina: he thought
nothing trivial which touched, however re.
motely, the dignity Of that body; and he
appealed to their experience for the justice
of this sentiment, and urged them in
language the most impressive, and in a
manner the most commanding, TO avoid
the smaller relaxation of the habits which
he had endeavored to incucate and estab-
lish.
But he challenged their attention to con-
slderatlOns more momentous than any
which regarded merely their personal hon.
or and char acter-the preservation Of the
Law Of Liberty and the Constitution. This
House, said he is sanctuary and citadel
Of laws, Of order, Of liberty and il is here
lin this exalted refuge-here, ifany where
will resistance be made to the storms ofpop.
uar frenzy and the silent arts Of corrup-
ton and if the Constitution be destined CIV.
err to perish by the sacrilcgious hand of the
demagogue or usurper, (Which God avert y
its expiring agonies will be Witnessed OH
this floor.
He then adverted to those affecting SEN
sations which attended final separation
dissolution, perhaps forever, of the asso-
cations which he hoped had been mutually
satisfactory. lie consoled himself, howev-
er, and them, with the reflections, that
though separated, they would be engaged
in the common cause of disseminating
principles Of freedom and social ORDER
II. should always regard the proceedings
of that body with interest and solicitude--
he should feel for their honor, andth nation.
al honor intimately connected with it-and
took his leave with expressions OF personal
respect, and with prayers and wishes, &c.
&c.
In this cold relation, distant reader, es.
pecially one to whom Col. Burr is not per.
sonally known, will be at loss TO discern
the cause of those extraordinary emotions
which were excited--the whole senate were
in tears, and so unnamed, that it was hall
an hour before they could recover them,
selves sufficiently to come to order ano
choose Vice President, pro TEN.
At the Presidents, on Monday, two o
the senators were relating these circum
stances TO circle which had collected a
round them one of them said that, he
wished that the tradition might be preserv
ed as one Of the most extraordinary event,
he had ever Witnessed. Another senate
being asked on the day following that OF
which Mr.. Burr took his leave, how long h
was speaking, after moments pause, sal