The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-06-16
Aaron burr, the Third Vice
President Of the United States.

Aaron Burr, the Third vice
President Of the United States.
In an article lately upon the Vice Presi-
dents of the United States, we briefly allu- |
ded to Aaron Burr, the third person chosen |
to that Office, intending thereafter to more
particularly notice him. If he was not the |
most eminent man who ever occupied the |
station, his life was certainly the most |
eventfuL To the end of time his name |
will figure greatly in American annals ito |
point moral and adorn a tale" There |
are thousands and tens of thousands who |
refer to him who are very imperfecty ac-
quainted with, if, indeed, they know any
thing of, his personal history. We have a
NEUROLOGICAL character whom we label
Burr, but which bears nevertheless, but a
slight resemblance to the original person
of that name.
If there is anything in religious and pi-
Gus ancestry to govern a child, Mr.. Burr
had it in perfection. BE was the grand
son of the Rev. DR.. Edwards, perhaps the
most distinguished religious polemic this
nation has produced. His treatise upon
the Freedom of the WHIP is in the libra
ry of almost every orthodox clergyman,
and is considered conclusively to dem
onstrate the fact that while God foresaw
from the beginning what the future desti-
ny of every person would be, he at the
same time placed 1t IN their power to choose
for themselves that destiny. The daugh-
ter of DIR. Edwards, Esther by name, was
the mother of Aaron Burr. His father
was an eminent clergyman, the President
of Princeton College, New Jersey. Grow
ing up under the teachings of such per-
sons, they nevertheless had no influence
upon Aaron's conYictiOns, and when he
arrived at an age to choose for himself,
although never an aVowed skeptic, he was
very far from being orthodox. The ear
her events of his career are widely known.
Leaving college-leaVing a sick bed-at
the age of seventeen, with slight and
fragile form, he entered the Revolutionary
Army, was one of Benedict Arnold's
command which crossed the forests of
Maine, enduring hardships compared to
which Napoleon's passage of the Alps was
holiday tour. He was near Montgom
cry when he fell at the disastrous attack
by the Americans upon Quebec, on the
last day of the year 1875. Gen. Washing
ton long hesitated whsther he should ap'
point Burr or Hamilton as his military
secretary. Thus early IN life did the ri
valry of these two men commence The
preference was given to Hamilton. The
war being over, in which both distinguish
ed themselves, they became lawyers OF
eminence in New York. Mr.. Burr, al
though but thirty five years of age, had
such ability as man, such shrewdness as
a politician, that he defeated Gen. Schy'
lur, HaniltOn's father in law, one of the
Wealthiest men of the continent as United
] States Senator from New. York. His ri
umph was remarkable, for in that age
wealth and veteran service were almost
everything.
Time passed on. Burr rapidly rose
| He passed the crowd of Revolutionary
soldiers, orators and statesmen, and at
| forty two was Vice President of the Uni
ted States. He would have been President
| but for the personal opposition of Alex.
Hamilton. Thomas Jefferson. whom he
| so nearly succeeded in defeating for the
Chief Magistracy, although of the same
party, never forgave him, but pursued
/ him ever after with intense hatred. Burr's
| time as Vice President being on the point
of expiring, he became a candidate for
Governor of New York. His election
would have been sure, but for the oppOsi'
ton OF Mr., Hamilton. In the course Of
that Campaign language of an exceedingly
defamatory character, used in private con-
YersatiOn by Mr.. Hamilton respecting
him, came to the ears of Mr.. Burr.
In that day almost every distinguished
man fought duels. The Marquis of Well
lesley, Canning and Castlereigh, Moore
the Poet, Jeffry the critic, AID Others,
had theirs in England. De Wit Clinton,
jackson, Clay, Van Nesse and Randolph
resorted to them in the United States tc
heal their wounded honor. A son of Al
exander Hamilton, who had hardly reach
his manhood, had been killed in a duel a
Hoboken. 1t was there that Hamilton
met, after his sons decease, Burr's ehal
lenge, and was killed. The fall of so dis
tinguished man created great excitement
and elected much moral indignation
against dueling. Nevertheless Burr wa
not molested, and proceeded to Washing
: ton, where for the session he presided a
Vice President Indeed, he was neve
called upon to abide any judicial prosecu
ton. Feeling, however, that q stigmi
had been east upon his name in New York
he determined never to reside in that city
/ He was urged to go to Tennessee
+ throw out his sign as lawyer at Nash
: ville-Where in a short time he was prom
! ised seat in Congress- But he abandon
l ed this idea and gave his attention to tn
I
? to Mexico with an armed band-to plaC
himself at the head of the patriotic move
3 ment, and become the Emperor of thl
4 country. In order to avoid the neutralit
q laws, it was enYeloped in such mystery
j the idea got out that it was his purpos
d to separate the South western States frol
j the Union. The President, Mr.. jefferson
: did not like him. His arrest was oTdereC
: and he was brought to trial before the 81
g preme Court at Richmond, Va. The Chi
o Justice, John Marshall, was one Of Il
e most intimate friends of Alex. Hamilton
b but strong as his prejudices against b
r slayer might be, he did not allow them
Il interfere with his conduct as Judge
/ Burr had able counsel to assist him, b'
throughout was his own best lawyer
O. Among the outsiders who were tn
friendly TO his cause were Andrew JAG
a. son, who neglected no opportunity to d
D. nOunce the prosecution. The trst su
:, gestion, years after, of jackson for Pre-
- dent, In order to break down the Virgin
g dynasty, who had bad the Presidency
ID twenty four years, came from Burr in
le letter to his son in law, Governor AIIsto
n of South Carolina. ..s...1rs-. C.
" Burr then proceeded TO Europe in orc
10 to interest either England or France in
e, Mexican scheme Strange TO say, althou
OF they were at war with each other, br
40 opposed Il. England was the ally of
rt popular party in Spain, thea carrying o.
T war against Napoleon, who had placed
q, brother Joseph on the throne, She wo
ne not consent TO the separation of Mex
II from the Spanish crown. Napoleon wo
Oh OF agree to it because it would -detr
- nm the possessions, - he therghb