Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-05-01
Tie Character of Aaron Burr.
by WILLIAM WALLACE.

If Blenrerhasset had been the only person ruined
by Burr in the prosecution of his enterprises charity
would suggest burial of our remembrance of the
Exlle's desolation. But the victims Of Burr to
be numbered by hundreds. The base and the peaks
of society alike show the scathing marks of his fiery
visitation.
He cherished no friendship: he returned unhonor-
ed the drafts of gratitude he kinded by the resde
of hospitality the flame of lust and felt little plea
sure In bidding adieu to the LdreS of his host, until
the dearest that fourished in their sacred shadows
were sacrifced.% The mans whole being centred in
the pivot of sefshness. But for the affection which
he manifested toward his daughter, his sole merits
seem TO have been courage and ccolness and yet,
clustering were the laurels which they welded to
his brow-hls baser passions so predomnated that
he held it more glorious to seduce womanf than TO
glitter in the field of letters scale the sleeps of
philosophy, or to wave banner VIGOROUSLY In bat
tie
He courted the man to corrupt his wife-the states
man to profit by his iniuence-the millionaire to OBJ
tain his money-and the world to crafty his desires.
He the dangerous from the possession of
an intellect massive, piercing, and brilliant, united to
frame at once handsome and vigorous. His mind
was but the keen and reslstless weapon with which
his passions hewed way to conquest That weapon
was Protean But few could escape his ever chang
ing attack. If the victim fully under the gaze
of eye-whose sharp light resembled lightning inn
prisoned and forever playing In cloud black night
he was lost Bnrrs conversation irresistiby
fascinating-for his hand swept every chord Of the
human harp. He strewed the rosy paths of the hap
Ply, with flowers of still brighter hue; he arched the
troubled sky Of the responding, with the rainbow Of
hope; he conjured up before the rapt vision of the
avaricous mountains of gold and to the aspiring, he
pointed out the shadowy vistas Of glory.
Thus he stood, gifted, unprinciped, ruthless and
terrible. The want of fortune alone prevented his
presenting in one lurid, dreadful and overwhelming
mass, that EVIL which he accomplished but too
cesSfuly In many details Chance confined to valleys
comparatively humble, tempest which only waited
for a release to devastate continents.
1t may be asked-s'ls not his valor on the battle
fields of his country to be remembered 90 The an
swer must be-"Yes!' That was redeeming trait
No matter from what motive his military talents
exercised, our land reaped some benefit But there
are many persons who will doubt the real patriotism
of one, who ready to forswear his allegiance
who trampled on so much that was sacred, and who
held even his exploits against tyranny, less gor-
Gus than the moral destruction OF human being.
Are IS expected to subdue: but with Burr, the WIN
ter of time brought no to cool the lava of pas
sion At four score and six, the crater wore glow
as ardent as at twenty. His faculties Knocked at a
century.
Age should bring the soothing calm of religion, to
enable the bargue which has been tossed by the storms
of life to prepare for worthy entrance into the
of another world. Burr died he had lived, pract
cally an atheist.
Age should bring respect Burr died as he had
lived, without the regard Of the good. His hoary
hairs went down to the grave floating on tn, breeze Of
infamy.
In cunning an Iapo in lust Tarquin: in patience
Catalina in pleasure Sybarite in gratitude a
Malay, and in ambition Napoleon, ne affords the
world an awful example of powerful intellect, desti
tute Of virtue. His portrait would fifty appear in a
circle of Dante's Inferno.
Let no one accuse me of stepping with unsandal-
led feet through the solemn vaults of the sepuchre
Aaron Burr belongs to history Such a0ds the lot he
chose.
sHe scduced the wife and daughter Of the who gave
him shelter after the duel with Hamilton
fills own assertion.
tile wished to claim his rights British subject when
in Lord Liverpool rejected the offer with cen
tempt.