Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-23
NO. XXXVI.
AARON BURN.

About the year 1895 Colonel Burr Was
owner of nearly one-fourth of block fofl-
ting Nassau, Cedar, and Liberty streets.
and Broadway. He was an eminent law
yer with an extensive practice. l was IN
formed by one ofthe profession that his prae-
+ ftice at one period was worth ten thousand
dollars year. Iused frequently to SIT on
juries in the old City Hall (now the site Of
the custom-house) when Hamilton and Burr
were the opening counsel. They were both
acute lawyers and eloquent speakers, Are
markable incident took place one day.
They were trying the validity of will
Hamilton, having the will in his hand, hap
pened to hold it between the window and
his eyes. He rose, and prayed the court to
stay the proceedings, and, handing the viii
up to the Judge, Q think it was Brockholst
Livingston, } remarked "Ifthe court please.
there is witness from Heaven that will set
this matter at rest. If the court please, bold
the instrument SO as to look through the pa
per. The water-mark is dated five years
after the will was signed. The testator
could not make will FIVE years after he
was dead" Of course verdict for the de-
fendant was given at once.
In the year 1900 Colonel Burr was elect.
ed to the Office of Vice-President of the L.
nited States. On the 11th of July, 1904, ho
retired from political life. The fatal termi-
nation of the duel with Hamilton, and the
verdict of "wilful murder" rendered by the
coroner's jury, caused him to absent himself
from this part Of the country. He Travelled
through the Southern and Western States.
for the purpose Of getting up an expedition
against Mexico, for which he was tried for
high treason. He then fed to England,
where his papers were seized, and himself
thrown into prison. He was liberated soon
after, travelled in France and Germany,
and returned to New York in 1912. He re-
sumed the practice of law at No. 10 Nassau
street. Being lightly esteemed by his fel-
low-citizens, the effort was unsuccessful.
and he soon fell into decay in mind, body,
and estate. Mathew L. Davis, his last sel-
itary friend, stuck to him closer than broth.
er, and had him lodged in a solitary hut,
with lonely window, on desert sand
bank in the wilds of Staten Island. Here.
through the bounty of Mr.. Davis, he lived
for eight months and here on the night Of
the 14th of September, 1885, died Aaron
Burr, in the eighty-frst year Of his age, with
not friend to close his eyes, or wipe the
dew-drops Of death from his brow. Wash.
ington, Adams, Jay, and Hamilton died sur
rounded by weeping friends, and their graves
were bedewed by the tears of continent.
"He that hoDoreth me I will honor he that
despiseth me shall be lightly esteemed"
saith the book whose Author is divine
Burr was buried at Trenton, New Jersey
Laurie Todd, in the Home Journal.
SANDWICH IsLANDs.-The usually well
informed correspondent of the N. Y. Jour-
nal of Commerce writes as follows from
Washington under date of 10Th instant
Very important information has been re-
Gently received by the Government in re-
gard to the interference of the French in
the affairs of the Sandwich Island. These
dispatches show that the French have made
certain very extravagant demands, upon
the refusal of which they have threatened
a resort to force. The Commander of the
British squadron had, it is stated, applied to
his Government for orders and was await.
ing an order to exert his force.
The authorities of the Islands have ap.
piled to this Government for protection.--
The Cabinet have, as understand, agreed
unanimously upon the course of this Gov.
eminent on the subject, and the result has
been aremonstrance against the interference
of the Government of France, and an assu-
rance that this Government will not permit
the threatened hostile interference on the
part of France.
This Government was the first to recog.
Mise the national independence of the Sand
wich Islands, and to make treaty with
their Government. The British Govern.
ment slowly and reluctantly came into tho
same measures. Lord Palmerston objected
to the application of the Sandwich Island
Commissioners that the United States Gov
ernment could not be in earnest but, upon
an assurance from our Minister, Mr.. Ever
ett, that we were serious in our determine
ton to respect the independence Of the Sand
wich Islands, he pursued the like policy in
regard to them.
While this Government seeks no exclu-
sive control over the Islands, it will not per-
NIT the assumption Of any such control BY
any foreign power. The independence OF
the Island is matter of great commercial
and political Importance to the United
States ;-as they are the halfway house be.
tween our Pacific coast and the East Indies.
aa- There was one feature in the pageant
of the late celebration of the Anniversary