The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1847-10-15
Character Of Aaron Burr.
by WILLIAM WALLACE.

III WILLIAM WALLACE.
If Blennerhassett had been the only per.
son ruined by Burr, charity would suggest
a burial o! our remembrance Of the exilc's
desoiation.--B But the victims of burr are to
be numbered by hundreds. The base and
the peaks of society, alike, show the scath-
ing marks of his fiery visitation.
lie cherished no iriendship-he returned
unhonored the drafts of gratitude he kin
died the fame of lust at the very freside of
hospitality, ana felt little pleasure in bid
ding adieu to the Lares of his host until the
dearest objects under their sacred ini,u-
ence were sacrificed. But for the deep
affection which he manifested towards his
daughter, his sole merits seem to have been
GOODNESS and courage; and yet clustering
as were the lautels which they showed on
his brow, his baser passions SO predomina-
ted that he held it more glorious TO seduce a
woman than to shine in the Geld Of letters,
to scale the steps Of philosophy, or 10 wave
a banner VIGOROUSLY in battle.
lie courted the man to corrupt his wife
the statesman to profit by his influence
| the millionaire, to obtain his money, and
the world to crafty his desires. He was
more dangerous from the possession of an
intellect massive, piercing; and brilliant,
united to form at once handsome and Wig
orous. His mind was but the keen weapon
with which he hewed path to conquest,
| that weapon was Protcan. If the victim
fully came untle: the gaze Of all eye whose
sharp light resembled lightning imprisoned
and forever playing in a cloud black as
death he was foever lost. Burr's conversa-
ton was ilrcsistibly fascinating for hi,
hands swept every chord of the human
heart. He strewed the rosy paths of the
| happy with flowers of still brighter hue
lie arched the troubled sky Of the dcSpond
ing with the rainbow of hope; he copjuret
up before the rapt Vision Of the avariciou,
golden Golccndas; and TO the aspiring, hi
pointed out the illuminated yistas of glo
ry.
Thus he stood gifted and unprinciple,
ruthless and terrible. The want of grea
fnrtinn alone pra,a",nI IL ,------..-, =
one vast Albine mass, the evil which he ac
complished bat too successfully in man,
details. Chance confined to valleys com
parative humble, the stupendous glacier
which only needed the rays OF the sun O
fortune to devastate continents.
II may be asked SIS not his yalor oil
the battlefield of his country TO be remem
bered?" Yes, that was redCcmng thing
No matter from what motive his militar
talents were exercised, our land reaped som
benefit. But we are forced TO doubt til
patriotism of one who was so ready to fol
swear his allegiance; who trampled on S
+, much that men hold sacred, and who rt
garded his exploits against royal tyIann
? less glorious than the moral destruction Of
Il human being.
: Age is expected TO subdue; but wit
{ Burr, the winter of time brought no sno
u TO cool the lava of passion. At four-scort
and-six the crater glowed as ardent as
twenty. His faculties Knocked at a ceI
y fury.
Age should bring the soothing calm Off,
:, ligion to prepare the tempeSt-tost bar
; for its entrance into another and final sea
. Burr died as he had lived-a practical ath,
Il list. Age should bring respects: Burr exp
Z red as he had existed, without the regard
" the good.-llis hoary hairs wen. down
the grave floating on the breeze of infany
II In cunning, an 1ago; in lust Tarq,i
+ i in patience, Cataline; in pleasure, a 5,
y pariti; in gratitude a Maylay, and in ami
&c ton Napoleon--he affords the world ;
: awful example Of powerful intellect deSl
e tute of virtue. His portrait would fifty %
e pear in circle Of Dante's Inferno.
u Let no one accuse the speaker of ste
u ping with sandalled feet through the Solcil
i, sepulchre. Aaron Burr belongs TO hi,tcr
- Such was the lot he chose.