Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-12-17

had been no election by the people, in fact
before the returns had been fully received,
Burr addressed letter to Samuel Smith, a
member of the House of Representatives
from Maryland and devoted friend of Mr..
Jefferson, in which he says: sit is highly
probable that l shall have an equal number
of votes with Mr.. jefferson, but, if such
should be the result, every man who knows
me ought to know that | would utterly dis
claim all competition. BE assured that the
Federal party can entertain no wish for such
an exchange. Ast my friends, they would
dishonor my views and insult my feelings
by a suspicion that | would submit to be
instrumental in counteracting the wishes
and the expectations of the United States.
And l now constitute you my proxy't to de-
clare these sentiments if the occasion should
require"
Certainly more determined disclaimer
could not be conveyed through the medium
of the English language, and yet the Federal
party, instigated by jefferson who realized
that whether defeated or triumphant it
would be the means of paralyzng his popu-
larity with the people of the entire country,
determined to run him. The political his
tory Of this country does not, from its cradle
to the present moment, contain page OF
more bitter partisan persecution that the one
which contained the skillfully drawn pro-
gramme of Hamilton for the political de-
truction ofBurr.
! In the long list of distinguished statesmen
who have figured in the arena of American
unscrupulousness of character than Alexan-
der Hamilton. Islander was his favorite
weapon" and he welded it with all the I'M
relenting, merciless rage of the lioness when
defending her young. That he was an
able statesman and financial diplomatist,
even the prejudiced will admit, but when
midst the march of intellect his name will
have been forgotten, and the column which
his family have recently erected shall have
crumbled into dust under the weight of re-
volving years, Aaron Burr will be remem-
bered as the brightest meteor that ever
swept across the American heavens. The
truly conventional and puritanica may
hold up their pious hands in holy horror at
the moral calumny that blackened his char
arter, but they can be answered in the
language of Him who spake whilst on earth,
"Where are thine accusers2 Let him that
is without sin cast the first stone
On February 18th, 1901, the House OF
Representatives proceeded to elect Presi-
dent. On the first ballot eight States voted
for Jefferson, six tor Burr, and the votes of
two were divided. Balloting continued
without choice until February nth, when
for Jefferson, four for Burr and two in
blank. Thomas Jefferson was elected Pres
ident and Aaron Burr Vice President.
From this moment it was generally con-
coded that Burr's political doom had been
sounded. The press Of the two political
parties were united in violent denuncia-
ton of Burr, and thousands of tongues were
wreaking with blasphemous vituperaton.
Hamilton never desired for moment the
election of his rival, and nothing was more
gratifying to him. than to have been the
silent agent through which his defeat was
accomplished
The defeat of Burr lost him the confidence
of his party, and he was unable to secure
the denomination for President. He then
! turnpH his attantinn to lao al
election in the State of New York which
came off in February 1901 In this contest
he announced himself an independent can
didate for Governor the whole weight and
influence of the then administration was
brought to bear upon his defeat-Jefferson
and Hamilton were united, a strange COM
bination, but hate accepts the services OF
an ally"-Burr was defeated in this canvass
by Morgan Lewis, and he attributed his de-
feat to Hamilton. He then endeayored TO
clear himself before the nation and called
upon Hamilton to disavow some expression
which he had given utterance to pending
the canvass, and which Burr considered as
rejecting on his honor To this end he sent
through hands Of his friend Mr.. Van Ness a
communication to Hamilton asking "a
prompt and unqualified acknowledgement
or denial" Two days after the reception
of this communication, Hamilton returned
a reply of some length which was not salts
factory to Burr and he responded by saying
that, ''your letter has furnished me with new
reasons forrequiring definite reply" Some
further communications passed between the
parties which finally eliminated in per-
emptory challenge from Burr and It's accept
ance by Hamilton.
They met on the nth of July, 1904 under
the heights of Weehawken, near the spot
where Hamiton's oldest son had fallen q
victim in a duel. Ithas been said that when
Hamilton reached the ground, he found
Burr with his coat off and carelessly break
ing the branches from the underwood.
Hamilton won both the choice of position
and the word. The pistols We're loaded, the
men took their positions and'a the word
both were discharged nearly together. Ham
iieeh sprung w anu Aiich itli heavily upon
the ground. When his surgeon reached him
he said, "ths is mortal wound and sank
into insensibility. The next day and few
moments before his death, when he recov-
cred consciousness for moment and found
his wife weeping over him, he uttered these
words, Remember, Eliza, you are u Chris
tan" Burr was unhurt and was led away
by his second Van Ness, and the two, it is
said, rowed at once 10 Richmond Hill.
Mr.. Hamilton was opposed to dueling,
and we think tried hard TO avoid the en-
counter, but like Clay he was a coward Of
public opinion, and accepted the challenge
He recorded his views on the "Code" in a
paper which, under prcmonition of his
fate, lac left behind him.
With the death OF Hamilton expired the
last hope Of Federal ascendency, and it was
to be hoped forever. But il would seem
that with the assumption Of power ON the
part Of the Republican party, the principle