The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-05-14
THECHARACTER OF AARON BURR
BY WILLIAM WALLACE.

If Blenerhassot had been the only person ru-
ined by Burr, in the prosecution of his enterpri-
ses, charity would suggest burial of our re-
membrance of the Exilc's dcsolaton But the
victims of Burr Gre 20 be numbeIcd by hun
dreds, The base and tho peaks of society, alike
show the scaihiDg mark of his fiery visitation
lie cherished no friendship: he returned un-
honorod the drafts of gratitude: he kindled by
the very fircsde of hospitality the fame of lust,
and felt little pleasure in bidding adeu TO the
Ldrcs Of his host, until the dearest thai flourish
ed in their sacred shadows were sacrificed 3
The mans whole being centered On the pivot of
selishneSs. But for the affection which he man
itested toward his daughter, his sole moral merit
seems 10 have been courage and coolness; and
yet, clustering as were the laures which they
welded TO his brow. his baser passions so predo-
minated, that he held it more glorious 10 seduce
womant than to glitter in the field of letters,
TO scale the steps of philosophy, OF to wave a
banner vcorious'y in battle. .s
lie courted the man TO corrupt his wife-the
statesman TO profit by his infuence-the million
aire to obtain his money -and the world to gra-
tify his desires. He was the more dangerous
from the possession of an intellect massive, pier
cing and brilliant, united TO frame at once hand
some and vigorous. His mind was but the keen
and resistless weapon with which his passion hew-
cd way 10 conquest. That weapon was Pro-
team. But few could escape IFS ever changing
attack. If the victim fully came under the gaze
of an eye-whose sharp light resembIed light
ming imprisoned and forever playing in cloud
black as night--he was lost. BuT's conversa-
tion was irresistibly fascinating his hand
swept every chord of the human harp. He
s'rcwed the rosy paths Of the happy, with how-
ers OF still brighter hue; he arched the trou-
bled sky of the despondng, with the rainbow of
hope; he conjured up before the rapt vision of
the avaricious, mountains of gold; and TO the as
piring, be pointed out the shadowy vstas of
glory. -f. .'.......a
Thus he stood, gifted, unprincplcd, ruthless
and terrible The want Of fortune alone pre-
vented his presenting in one lurid, dreadful and
overwhelming mass, that EVIL which he accom-
plishcd but too successfully in many details
Chance confined TO valleys, comparatively hum
ble, tempest which only waited for release TO
deyaslate continents. .s .g
1t may be asked,---"Is not his yalor on the bat
tie fields ofhis country 70 be rcmemlcrcdW The
answer must bc--"Yesw That was a redeem
ing trait. No matter from what motive his mill
itary talents were exercised, our land reaped
some bcreft. But there are many persons who
will doubt the real patriotism of one, who was
so ready TO forswoar his allegiance,t who tram
pied on so much that was sacred, and who held
even his exploits against tyranny, as less glori-
ous than the moral destruction ola human being.
*fIe seduced the wife and daughter Of the man who
gave him shelter aiterthe duel with Hamilton
this own assertion, ss s..,, f,,.. .f..t $500
tile wished to claim his rights British subject
when in Lendpn. Lord Liverpool rejected the offer
with contempt,