Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-03-06
Biographical,
From the New York Evening Post)
THE PRIVATE LIFE OF AARON
BURR.
ICONCLCSIoN.1 |

Texas was then beginning TO attract the
tide of emigration which, q few years later,
set SO strongly thitber. Burr had always
taken great interest 10 that country. Per-
sons with whom he had been variously con-
nected 10 life had scheme on foot for set
tling large colony of Germans on q tract
OF land in Texas. a brig had been chartered,
and the project was 10 a state of forwardsess,
when the possession of sum Of money
enabled Burr to buy shares in the enterprise
The greater part OF the money which he had
brought from Hartford was invested in this
way. 1t proved a total loss. The time had
not yet coule for emigration to Texas. The
Germans became discouraged aud separated,
and, TO complete the failure Of the scheme,
the title of the lands in the confusion of the
times, proved defective. Meantime, madame
who was remarkable thrifty woman, with
talent for the management Of property won
dered that her husband made no illusion to
the subject Of the investment; for the Texas
speculation had not been mentioned TO her.
She caused him TO be questioned on the sub
ject. He begged to intimate to the iady's
messenger that it was no affair Of hers aud
requested her to remind the lady that she
now had husband to manage her affairs,
and one who would manage them.
Goodness between the husband aud wife
was the result of this eol!oquy Then came
the remonstrance. Then enstraugement
Burr got into the habit of remaining ut his
Office in the city. Then, partial reconcila.
tion. Full Of schemes and speculations to
the last, without retaining any of his ability
to operate successfully, he lost more money,
and more, and more. The patience of the
lady was exhausted. She fled a complaint
accusing him of infdelty, and praying that
he might have no more control or authority
over her affairs. The accusation is not known
to have been groundless nor indeed, at the
time was il seriously believed. 1t was used
merely as the most convenient legal mode Of
deprivng him Of control over her property.
! AT first, he answered the complaint vigorous
| ", but afterward, he allowed it to 60 by
default and proceedings we're carried no fur
ther. A few short weeks of happiness, fol-
| lowed by few months of alternate enstraDge.
| ment and reconciliation. aud this union, that
| begun not inauspiciously, was, in effect,
| though never in law, dissolved What is
strangest of all lie, that the lady. though she
never saw her husband during the last two
years Of her life, cherished no ill.wl toward
| him, and shed tears over his death. To this
hour Madame Jumel thinks and speaks OF
/ him in kindness, attributiDg what was wrong
or uuwise 10 his conduct to the infrmities OF
age.
| THE BURR AND HAMILTON DUEL.
The question has been frequently been raj.
sed whether upon the principles, it such they
may be called, Of the ''code of honor" Burr
was justified in calling Hamilton to the field,
| and the conduct Of Hamilton in the affair has
commanded the general approval Of the most
sensible and generous men.
A cindid view OF the correspondence which
preceded the duel entirely confirms this gen.
eral verdict. In the course of the exciting
political contest between Colonel Burr and
Morgan Levi DR.. Charles ID. ooper, one o
Burr's political opponents, in letter to a
friend, after stating the uuiavorable light in
which Hamilton and Judge Kent regarded
| Burrs political character, added: IL could
detail to you still more desl icable opinion
which General Hamilton has expressed ol
MIR. Burr" This letter Burr sent TO Hamil
ton with the passage above quoted marked
and demanded an explanation. Was Hamil.
ton bound to give it
1t will be observed that what Hamilton's
expression was upon which DR.. Cooper bases
his statement is not given, nor is the time
when il was uttered. or the circumstances
which called it forth stated. For aught that
appears, it may have been a statement to
which neither Burr himself, nor men OF honor
in general, ought or would have taken any ex.
ceptin; aud the time of making it aud the
attending circumstances might have entirely
relieved It Of any offensive character which
would otherwise have belonged to it.
III Hamilton was bound to answer such au
Inquiry from Burr. then, according to the
code Of honor" man is required to abstain
not only from saying anything, in fact, dero
gatory to the honor Of another, but also from
saying anything IN the opinion OF y third per
son is thus derogatory. Nay more, hs Il
bound. when called upon. without any speci
fcation Of time, place or circumstances, Il
rapsack the chambers Of his memory, TO Civ,
himself p searching examination, and declare
whether, at any time or on any occasion, b.
|, was allowed ar expression to escape hin
which particular individual would esteem
y derogatory to man's honor. Certainly.
requires bat amoments reflection to see iha
the demand made by Burr was utterly unjus
!. tihable.
= 10 the ''cods OF honor" We are bitterly OF
posed. Tie thing issslf = vrssebedly vroDl