The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-06-03
Yror. the "Cabtnet History Of kentucky" by 7.
s. Arthur. ond Wn. II. Carpenter.
RHE CONSPIRACY OF AARON BURR.

In the year 1901, Aaron Burr, . native Of
Ia the war Of independence, and subsequently
senator Of the United States, was elected Vice
President Of the Union. He was a man of the
most extraordinary talents, plausible, intrigue
ing daringly ambitious, singularly polished In
his address, but Of the lowest moral character.
Before the expiration of his term Of Office, he
had lost the confidence of his party, and while
Jefferson was unanimously nominated as can
didate for reelection to the Presidency in the
selection Of a candidate for vice president, Burr
vas set aside, and George Clinton nominated in
hi. stead.
Possessing yet some little political power in
r. York, he was enabled TO have himself brought
forward by his friends as an independent candi-
date for governor Of that state, N opposition to
Chief Justice Lewis, the nominee of the admin
ssration party.
Owing to the high character of Alexander
Hamilton. and the influence of his opinions upon
the active politicians Of the state, Burr was de-
feated, and charging his discontinue to the in
strumentality of Hamilton, only waited favor
able opportunity for accomplishing signsl re-
Y.ngc.
Hamilton Mt this time was ut the head of the
federal arty, which, though shorn of its former
power, was yet large enough to offer formida-
BE oppposition 10 any candidate whose fitness
they doubted, or whose opinions were at vari-
ance with their own.
Sinking rapidly in the scale of political repu-
tatiou, and deeply iavolved in pecuniary liabili-
ties Burr brooded over the failure of his latest
hope with malignity, which, gathering strength
by nursing, at length impelled him to force his
antagonist into duel The result was such as
might have been expected. Hamilton was shot
down at the first fire, and TO escape the indig-
nant outburst of public opinion, Burr fed to
South Carolina, and took refuge with his accom-
pLshed and unfortunate daughter, who had mar
ned wealthy planter of that region.
The seat of government having been removed
70 the District of Columbia, Burr returned to
Washington and presided over the senate until
The expiration of his term of Office T; and then
oelng unable to return to New York in conse-
quence of the officers of that state holding n
warrant against him for the killing of Hamilton,
he turned his attention to a wider field of oper-
Aoons, and to bolder schemes of ambition.
At the close of the session of Congress in the
spring of 1905, Burr set out foI the West. The
nominal objects for which this journey was pro-
secuted were variously stated. One was a spec
olauon for a canal around the falls of the Ohio,
winch he had projected with Senator Dayton
New Jersey, whose extensive purchase of
military land warrants had given him large
interest in the military bounty lands in that vi
einity
Burr had offered share in this speculation to
General Wilkinson, who, besides being comman-
uef-in-chief of the army in that quarter, had
'a'ey been appointed governor of the new ter
s1'ory OF Louisiana. Burr and Wilkinson had
tes been known 10 each other, and the former
''sns 70 hs's rrckvued confidently upon sscu.