Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-06-06
DAILY SENTINEL.
Fron osoubs'. Trial Of Barr. " last pubIIs.edl


Trial % Aaron Burr-His Counsel.
fFron Ceombs's Trial Of Barr last publIsscd.l
Seldom has ssch an array OF eminent counsel
appeared together in any one case as participated
In the great trial which constitutes the subject
matter Of Ibis volume The leader Of the prose
cuton vas George Hay, Attorney OF tue United
States for The District Of Virginia. man Of fair
ability, but hardly equal 70 the task imposed
upon him. he was the son-in-law Of Colonel
Monroe afterwards President Of the United
States } and zsalous Democrat OF the Jefferson
school He prosecuted the case with zeal. IL is
true, but the charge that he displayed an " 10
temperate zeal" sometimes plainly intimated by
counsel on the other side.) does not appear 10 be
justified by tbs reports Of the trial.
Mr.. Hay wss ably assisted by William Writ,
then 35 years Of age. and just rising into emf
nence. No other lawyer In the case, on either
side, 20 commanded the attention and won the
admiration Of the throng Of spectators who
attended the trial as he. While his handsome
person, graceful manners, pleasing wit, and bril-
liant defamation invariably captivated the by
ISLANDERS, there was always solid matter enough
In bis arguments 70 attract the heaviest guns OF
his sdvefsaries. IL is said that be engaged in
the prosecution at the personal request Of Presi-
dent Jefferson.
The prosecution swss assisted by Alexander
Mchae. The son OF scotch parsoD, who was
distinguished in the Revolutionary war: first. for
being himself a hot Tory; and secondly, for be
ing the father Of seven sons, all Of whom were
ardent Whigs" He is described By Parton as
lawyer Of respectable ability and a sharp
tongue-shsrp from i'll nature. more than wit.
he vas neither pleasing nor powerful in argu-
ment." At the time Of the trial he was Lieuten
ant Governor OF Virginia.
On the part Of the defense, the real leader and
principal tactician Burr himsel. mo step
was taken" says Parton. mot point conceded,
without his express permission. He appeared in
court atiired with scrupulous neatnsss, in black,
with powdered hair and queue. His manner was
dignity itself-composed. polite, confident. I'm
pressive. he had the air of a man with perfect
ease with himself. and simply intent on the bu-
siness of tho scene. Ii was observed that he
never laughed at the Jokes OF counsel which, at
some stages of the trial, were numerous and
good" he never lost his temper. aud never,
under any pr0vocation. was betrayed into an Of
fensivc personal retort. He brought forward
nearly every motion made on bis side. and stated
the grounds Of it with remarkable breyity and
clearness. He equally happy in briefly
summing up. at the close Of the debate, aud pre-
ssnting in perspleuous order the strong points
brought forward in the more elaborate argu-
guments os his counsel He never in
the whole course OF the trial, INDUCED in an
argument of any considerable length. Deep,
abstruse. mctaphy steal reasoning was not his
forte he left that to more competent hands
Edmund Randolph. in point of age experience
and position, deserves TO be mentioned first OF
the counsel who assisted in the defense. He was
dignifed Virginia gentleman of the old school
He had been a member OF the Continental Con
gress during the Revolution. Attorney General
and Secretary of State under Washington, aud
Governor and Attorney General of his own
State. He was man Of much learning and
fair ability, but bis powers were then rather on
the wane.
Second among Burr's counsel should be rank ed
John Wickham, Of Richmond. in whom wa.
combined, more than any one else engaged in
this trial, on either side, all the elements which
constitute the able and accomplished barrister
He was an Engishman by birth, and had learn
ing, logic. wit, sarcasm. eloquence. a fine pres
ence and persuasive manner"
Next should DO mentioned Luther Martin o
Maryland. "who (says Parton) 10 the single par
tculsr of legal learning. the first lawyer OF
his day. His memory wonderful AS hi,
reading. SO that his requirements were at instan
taneous command. Burr had become acquainted
with him at Washington. three years before
during the trial Of Judge Chase. in whose de
Tense he greatly distinguished himself" He wal
coarse in his manners, ungrammatica in bis Ian
guage verbose, and addicted to repetitOns in hi.
style. and utterly regardless OF order in the ar
rangement OF his arguments. These defects
were aggravated by an unfortunate impedimen
in his speech. arising from excessive flow OF
saliva Withal he was mighty drinker." and
though able TO carry an incredible cargo oil
brandy, often exhibited unmistakable signs OF
being overladen. Bennerhassett says Of him in
his journal: Fancy has been as much denied ia
his mind grace to his person or habits. These
are gross and incalculabe restraints, even on the
most solemn public occasions. Hence his invec-
tives rather than pointed. his eulo
gums more fulsome than pathetic" Neverthe-
less. he was great and powerful man, possess
ing many excellent qualities OF the heart, as well
as all the zeal that the warmest personal friend
ship for bis client. and intense political enmity
to Jefferson and his Administration, could in
spire in his ardent and passionate nature.
Benjamin Bolts, father Of John Bolts of the
present generation, was another distinguished
lawyer who took prominent part in conducting
the defense. He was the youngest of Burr g
counsel; q ready, bold. dashng man, who always
charged his enemy on the double quick" and
generally dealt effective blows He had a great
power of caricaturing the arguments of his op-
ponents and exposing them in ludicrous light
Charles Lee appeared also as counsel for Burr
at an advanced stage of the trial. He was one
Of the most distinguished lawyers in Virginia
had at one time been Attorney General of the
United States. and had been counsel for Bellman
and Swartw0ut before the Supreme Court be
did not take very active part in the trial. but
the few brief addresses be made TO the Court
were models of terse. vigorous and compact ar
gument
Last and least MAS "a certain Jack Baker
who has been describ ed as "a lame man. with a
crutch; merry fellow. with plenty OF horse
wit aud an infectious laugh; no speaker and no
LAWYER. but the best of good fellows" He Just
took part enough in the trial TO get his name
once or twice in the reports. and thereby saved
il from oblivion.
Ii is STATED in Blannerhassett's journal tina,
all these distinguished lawyers rendered their
services gratuitously TO Col Burr. Mr.. Wick
ham and Mr.. Bolts made q similar tender OF
their services 10 Blannerhassett.
Rem I'M scences of the Elder Eooth.
From the Spirit Of the West, May IS.
knew Brutus Booth, Sen. in Baltimore
where his ecceLtricities were better known, per
haps than in any other city. His freaks of in
sanity. as they were called, were so familiar 10
the inhabitants of that city that his most absurd
performances excited but little remark \ few
Femir iseences of his mysterious conduct during