The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-10
WASHINGTON.
A "Reminiscences Of Aaron Burr's Scheme
of Empire.
The New Minister to Mexico-Story of Aaron
Burr's Revolutionary Project-Sketch
Of an Old American Family.
New York Herald. 1

WASHINGTON, March LA singular Incl
dent in the family history OF Judge Philip
H. Morgan, the new minister to Mexico, who
is expected here this week, is spoken of as
giving peculiar appropriateness to bis ap-
pointment and likely to secure him a warm
welcome In Mexico. Judge Morgan's great
grandfather was a colonel in the Revolution.
airy war, personal friend of General Wash
ington and well acquainted with Aaron Burr
After the close OF the war Colonel Morgan
settled on large estate called Morgauza, in
Western Pennsylvania and here Burr paid
him visit with the hope, as the event
proved, to induce Colonel Morgan's two sons
TO join him in bis contemplated expedition
against Mexico and design to establish a
Southwestern empire But he literally
reckoned without his host, who became so
indignant with Burr that the ex-vice presi-
dent did not think 1t prudent to disclose his
plans in full but was rash enough to say at
the dinner table one day when warmed with
wine that, with 500 men the city of New
York could be taken, and with 200 Congress
could be driven into the river"
The dinner table was thrown into disorder
by this speech, but Colonel Morgan's young
est son, afterwsrd General John Morgan, re-
Piled hotly:
"By God, sir, with that force you can not
take our little town Of Cannonsburg, which
Joined his fathers lands; to which Burr
cooly replied
"Confine yourself to this side of the noun
tain, il you please, and I'll not contradict
you, and then left the table. Next morn
ing he left the house before breakfast and
proceeded on his visit to BIennerhassett
island, in the Ohio.
Colonel Morgan had, however, gathered
enough of Burr's scheme to enable him to
warn President Jefferson, who replied, ask
ing him to act as a good citizen by further
tracing the footsteps of this ENTERPRISE" On
the trial OF Burr at Richmond for treason
and misdemeanor in preparing the means of
q military expedition against Mexico" Colo
mel Morgan was one of the witnesses, and
testified to the facts which are set down in
the official report OF the trial
General John Morgan, who made so
patriotic a reply to Burr, was the grand
father of the new Mexican minister. He
died at Morganza in 1917. Judge Morgan's
father studied law In Washington, Pa, and
removed to Baton Rouge In 1922, where he
died in 1862 1t is curious and interesting
that after 80 years the grandson OF the young
man who would not allow Burr to talk
treason or propose filibustering at his
fathers table, is sent as minister to the
country against which Burr was then
scheming. Judge Morgan is an accom-.
piished Spanish scholar, and familiar also
with the law and institutions of Mexico. He
was selected for the place of minister by
Secretary Evarts, not only because of these
accomplishments, but because he has long
shown an intelligent appreciation of the
value OF closer commercial relations between
the United States and Mexico, and of the
continuance of friendship between the two
countries.