Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-02-21
The Character Of Aaron Burr.


Sans trade, sans tim sans press, sans everything.
The Character of Aaron Burr
IF Blannerhasset had been the only per-
son ruined by Burr, in the prosecution CT
his enterprises, charity would suggest a
burial OF our remembrance of the exile's
desolation. But the victims oil Burr are
to be numbered by hundreds. The base
and the peaks Of society alike show the
scathing marks Of his frey visitation.
He cherished no friendship; he return
ed, unhonored, the drafts of gratitude; he
kindled by the very freside Of hospitality
the flame Of lust, and felt little pleasure in
bidding adieu to the Lares of his host, un-
til the dearest. that flourished in their
shadows were sacrifced.* The mans
whole being centred on the pivot Of self
ishness. But for the affection he manifest
ed towards his daughter, his sole moral
merits appear to have been courage and
GOODNESS; and yet, clustering as were the
laurels which they welded to his brow,
his baser passions so predominated, that
he held it more glorious to seduce VIC
mani than to glitter in the field of letters,
10 scale the sleeps of philosophy, or to
wave banner VIGOROUSLY in battle.
He courted the man to corrupt his wife
1.-The statesman to profit be his influence
the Millionaire to obtain his money-ard
the world to crafty his desires. He was
the more dangerous from the possession of
an intellect, massive, piercing, brilliant
united to frame at once handsome and
vigorous. His mind was but the keen
and restless weapon with which his pas
sions hewed way to conquest. That
weapon was protean. But few could es-
cape its ever changing attack. 1.-THE vic
tim came fully under the gaze Of an eye
whose sharp light resembled lightning i'm
prisonei and forever playing Ground
cloud as black as night, he was lost.
Burr's conversation was irresistibly ia
cinatiDg-his hand swept over every chord
Of the human heart. He strewed the ro-
sy paths Of the happy with flowers of a
still brighter hue; he arched the troubled
sky of the Responding with the rainbow Of
hope; he conjured up before the wrapt
visions Of the avaricious mountains of gold;
and to the aspiring, he pointed out the
shadowy vistas Of glory.
Thus he stood, gifted, unprincipled,
ruthless and terrible. The want Of for
tune alone prevented his presenting in one
lurid, dreadful and overwhelming mass,
that evil which he accomplished but too
successfully in many details. Chance con-
fined to valleys, comparatively humble, a
tempest which only waited for release
to devastate continents.
1t may be asked-ssIs not his valour on
the battle fields of his country to be re-
membered?" The answer mist be- sYes!'
That was redeeming trait. No matter
from what motives his military talents
were exercised, our land reaped some
benefit. But there are persons who will
doubt the real patriotism Of one who was
SO ready to foreswear his allegiance who
trampled on so much that was sacred, and
who held even his exploits against tyrany
AS less glorious than the moral destruc-
tion Of human being.
Age is expected to subdue; but with
3 RI he winter Of time brought no SHOWS
to cool the lava Of passion. At fourscore
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 barque
which has been tossed by the storms Of
life, 10 prepare for worthy entrance into
abe sea of another world. Burr died as
he had lived practically an atheist. Age
should bring respect; Burr died as he had
lived, without the respect of the good
His hoary hairs went down to the grave
floating on the breeze of infamy.
In cunning an Iago; in lust Tarquin;
IN patience Catalina; in pleasure a
Sybarite; in gratitude Malay, and in
ambition Napoleon; he affords the world
powerful example of powerful intellect,
destitute Of virtue. His portrait would
fifty appear in circle of Dante's Inferno.
Let no one accuse me of stepping with
unsandalled feet through the Tenn vaults
Of the sepulchre. AanoN Burr belongs
to History. Such was the lot lie chose.
sHe seduced the wife and daughter of the man
who give him shelter after the duel with Hamilton
this own assertion.
Tile wished to claim his rights as British sub.
Ject, when in London, Lord Liverpool rejected the
offer with contempt.
IL When the celebrated engineer