St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-08-01
A Dead Shot.
REMINI>C CENCES OF TIE LIFE OF AARON
BURR.

REMI>I>CENCESO OF TIE LIFE OF AARON
BURR.
In the autumn of the wear Isis. il
court held lis >ttimg> at ltira. y. Y.
which was largely attended 10y legal
gentlemen from various parts of the
state. AS the second day of the term
WAS drawn ing to II close. Il gentleman.
whose appearance indicated that he had
just arrived in town, entered the court
room. and. walking directly to the bar.
seated himself among the lawyers.
There WAS something III his appearance
that attracted attention. The most
casual observer could not fail to detect
in his hearing 4 natural ease. and un-
dctinahlc superiority which 80 silently.
Vet truthtully, cvimccs familiarity with
refined society. He had apparently
numbered fifty Years. and yet time had
''lightly pressed his signct seal upon
him, for much of the ViVacitN OF ynuth
still fingered on his Nisagr. His hail
had begun To turn gray. and at the side
of his head was slightly hushy. hut
worn back from his face and temples
left his broad. high forehead quite haIc,
giving II classic east to his features.
His cheek was pale and thin, his brow
thoughtful and tingcd with the shadow
OF care. perhaps of sorrow, while his
black. brilliant and Singularly f;iScina-
ting eye. lighted up and animated Il
face once seen could never hc forgotten.
II" WIS below the ordinary stature. and
his frame was somtW hat slender. though
well knit and fair propnrtioncd. Final
IL thn I,,lJf .DSg,uII,4 tI1t of
tlcman Il man of intellect. acquainted
with the world. with men. and. withal
il penetrating Judge of character.
As he entered the bar. Martin Van
Hurcn WAS in the act of closing an ar
gumcnt that had occupied the attention
of the count for several hours. Turn
ing t" take his seat. he recognized the
stranger who was near him.
"Coloncl Burr" said Van Buren, in a
low voice, extending his hand. Il am
very glad To see You. Cur cause was
reached this morning. but as | could
not think of dcfaulting you in your all
Scmcc. which believed to he lnavoid-
able. exchanged our ease with the one
just submitted. | hope, Colonel. you
are we'll"
quite well. | thank You: | am
obliged for this courtesy. | did not
leave New York quite as soon as | cX-
pcrted. and it is a long way here
Madame Justice is getting mercurial,
fancy, since she has established hcI
temples 81 far in the interior of oul
state. But suppose our case is the
next one to he tried p
NO. Colonel. am sorry to say that
th,.I. Il Il
that is To hc diSposcd of next" At this
| period III the conversation the voice oi
/ the clicr announced the adjournment
of court until the next morning. and the
| two lawyers left the court house to-
gcthcr.
The reader is already aware that the
stranger who has been described was
Aaron Burr-a name conspicuous in
American history. His fall from great
ness his pccuniary miStoltunes-h had
compelled him to resume the practic,
of Il profession in which he had few. il
any. rivals. and which had been to hin
Il stepping stone to the highest honors
He WAS at Utica on this occasion a.
the opponent of Martin Van Buren, il
one of those great cicctmcnt suits
which in the early history of the stat,
occupied so much of the attention of it,
courts. Van Buren, at this time wa,
one of the ablc>t lawyers at the bar-G
state senator and politician of rare
political abilities. skilled in the art a
managing the inclination and preiudice'
of the people, welding an influence
which rendered him Il powerful. if moi
successful. rival of Dewitt Clinton.
Colonel Burr was at this time I'M
known in the politics of the state ant
nation, though he had occupied a seal
| i'll the Senate of the United States, ant
had contcnded with jefferson for tn,
| Presidential chair of the nation, miss
ing the great prize by two or three
votes. and winning the Vice Presidency
with little opposition. He was nov
merely the lawyer. a few years aftc
! his admission to the bar he removed
from Albany to New York city, where
he became ii successful, though friendly
rival of Alexander Hamilton. 1t ha
been said that each of these great mel
| had IL high, if not exalted, opinion o
the others talents. To the strength
and facility of IIamilton's imaginations
his fine rhetorical powers, his occasional
flashes of poetical genius, his acute rea
| onI thn fnrea nf IN