The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-08

~DVA6S VI AARON BURR.
some "Reminiscences OF Things Not Inclu-
ded In the Biographies.
New York Evening Postl
There.wa one New Yorker of former
generation who possessed individuality
enough to be wildly remembered by the
present, and that person was Aaron Burr.
Otner famous men of his day were as closely
ioentlned with the city's history as he, but
their personal memory seems to have pretty
much faded from the minds of its citizens
with Burr, however, the case is different,
ana there are scores of gray-haired gentle
men IN the city, and some old ladies, too, who
remember him perfectly, and if properly ap-
preached will entertain one for hours with
vivacious gossip and anecdote concerning
him. Many of these anecdotes were, Of
course, collected and published by Burr's bio
graphers, but some have escaped their notice.
Among the latter are several related by an
od gentleman occupying responsible posi-
tlon IN this city, and who was an intimate
friend and connection of Colonel Burr, which
refute some assertions concerning him made
by historians, and, as tending to help the pub
lie to juster estimate of his character, are
worthy of publication.
l give them very nearly in the words of
the narrator, permitting him to speak here
after, but avoiding double marks of quota
ton:
When first met Colonel Burr, he began,
he was an old man, and as you know under a
cloud, not bowed down and decrepit, as ex-
pected to see him, but ruddy and fair-faced,
with the brilliant eye and erect carriage of a
man in his prime. Our leave-taking on this
occasion most impressed me. "You must
come and see me oiten," said he II am an
old man; you are young, and my ex-
perience of the world and among men has
been such that may be of benefit to you"
That Washington disliked Burr is n matter
of history; this was due partly to Hamilton's
influence, but chiefly think, to Burrs freely
spoken criticisms oillbis generalship. Burr,
thought Washington poor general, and con-
ceited youngster as he was, was quite out
spoken in his opinions. He never sought to
impress his peculiar views of the man upon
the young however, as an incident which l
can relate will chow. In our intercourse--as
cordial and unaffected as that between father
and son--be was speaking one day of the
battle of Monmouth, which he characterized
as a succession of mere skirmishes, magnified
by fulsome historians into q battle, and which,
he said, might have been won for the patriot
arms on several occasions had Washington
and here checked himself, and, after a mo-
ment, added; LET us stop here; / would on
no account destroy the veneration and es-
TEEN that you have for the character of
Washington"
Andrew jackson. in his younger days, was
an ardent admrer of Burr, and was to have
been the latter's most trusted lieutenant in
the proposed Mexican expedition. He also
stoutly defended him at the time of his trial
for treason in Richmond in 1907. Twenty
one years alter, in 1928, their positions had
changed. jackson was the Democratic can
didate for president, and Burr was living OBJ
scurely in New York, poor and under cloud.
They were not then on speaking terms.
Burr had letters and papers in his possession
that would have nipped Jackson's presideD-
tiai aspirations in the bud; he also held the
fate of more than half the political aspirants
of the day at his disposal. and l often won
dered at his forbearance in not using this
power, the more as in many cases by SO doing
he might have cleared himself. But think
fidelity to friends was one of his most striking
traits.
Burr voted for jackson for president, and
his appearing at the polls l remember per-
fectly. The polling places were then in Bow
ling Green, near the battery, and on this
occasion there were gathered very much such
turbulent crowd MS now disgrace our cleo.
tons. At length Colonel Burr, accompa-
MED by friend, one of the Swartwouts.
think. drove up, and it was soon whispered
about that he was present. Every one
seemed anxious to see him; the noisy demon
stations of the crowd were hushed, and q
lane was formed, through which he advanced
to deposit his ballot; some of the citizens
even lifted their hats in spontaneous tribute
to the man. There was a presence abou:
Burr rarely met with, which made him q
marked man in any company, and preserved
him from personal insult. Indeed, l never
knew an instance in which he was insulted
personally, though he was SO often and SO
grossly assailed by persons at distance.
Another thing not generally known, be-
lieve, is that Burr once projected compre-
hensive work On the men and events OF the
Revolution; his more intimate friends, how
ever, knew this to have been one of the most
cherished plans of his later life. For it he
had collected many letters and papers OF
value, which at the time of his flight to
Europe were sent for safe keeping to his ac-
complished daughter, Theodosia, in South
Carolina. When she came to meet her
father in 1912 they accompanied her on board
the Inflated Patriot, and were lost with her
in the ship-wreck of that vessel off the Hat
teras coast.
Hence the project was abandoned, to the
incalculable loss of American literature, for
Burr had it in his power to give truthful
history of the great contest, and could have
fortified his position with the necessary pa
pers and documents. / am certain that be
would have disproved many of the assertions
of biased historians, and that juster estimate
than is common of some eminent characters
might have been gathered from his work, es-
pecially of Jefferson and Hamilton. Burr was
never himself after the loss of the Patriot; he
was more affected by it than was generally
supposed. l think ne was heart-broken
Often he was urged TO reply to the calumnies
circulated concerning him, as duty he owed
to himself, to his family, and to posterity at