The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-11-07
burr and ALSTON
The Perfidy of the Latter to the
Former, as Charged by Har-
man BIennerhassett.

A|SANA ~oN~AA HAN1 "NA@ I~AN -
the st. Louis Republican and pub
lished in the issue Of that paper fol
October "a:
THERESA NJ. BLENNERHAssETT's LET
TER.
ST. LOUIS, October 20.-My at
tention has been called to a letter il
your paper Of the Sth instant, dated
Blennerhassett's Island, October 9Th
l wish 10 correct certain portions q
that letter. The point is raised n:
to lChy Harman Blenncrhassett join.
ed Burr in his proposed expedition
to Mexico, and Wirt's view-that il
was Burr's plausibiiity and fascinat-
ing manners that led him on--is
given, to which is added Mr.. Par.
tons idea, that generous living had
impaired their means, etc. Mr. Par
tons opinion is worth little in the
matter, as he could hardly be ac-
counted competent biographer OF
Harman Blennerhassett. Why Har-
man Blennerhassett wished to join
Burr in his chimerical scheme ?
Just why has never been known,
and never will be, for the lips OF
those who bear the name are sealed
on that subject. The skeleton con-
cealed in the closet of that house
hold has never had its bones ratified
before the public, but its grim image
darkened aud saddened more than
one home and heart in the "old
land" and its trail is marked at this
day by the descendants of Harman
Blennerhassett. So that in the alb
sence of the truth all statements
made are but surmises. That Har-
man Blennerhassett supplied the
money from his own purse for the
expedition, TO the amount of $50, 900,
is a matter that cannot be disputed.
Gov. Aston (Burr's son-in-law) was
the security, and possessing a large
unincumbered fortune, was amply
able TO be. Not only was Gov. Al
ston security for the money advanc-
ed, but be promised to join the ex-
peditiOn, and afterward denied all
connection with or knowledge of the
affair. This is shown in a letter in
my possession, written by Harman
Blennerhassett to Gov. Aston,
March 3, 1911, in which he says:
Col. J Aston:
Your adjusting this affair in the man
ner proposed, l would, at a certain pc
riOd Of our acquaintance, have suffered
no man 10 question; but the cruel,
cold-blOOded Indifference with which
you have SO many years beheld dis
tressed family in vain endeavOring o.
collect some fragment of the property
embarked and wrecked in the voyage
yOu had insured, without acquitting
the debt Of your guarantee. Such b
demeanOr, sir, naturally obliges me, as
further and final result of all my la
bOrs aud deliberations that relate &
you, 10 submit TO your reflections other
motives Of action besides those already
uffered. These are certainly of a char
acter aud complexion regret it should
be my Tot TO exhibit To the public. 10
you, however, IL belongs TO say wheth
er they shall remain shrOuded within
the sanctuary Of your own breast, or
stalk forth, the heralds Of the private
treason and public perjury they will
proclaim infAllibly TO the honest Dem
OCra,ic elec;o ;ors Of South Carolina, who
would then remove you from the chair
Of their Assembly with a different kind
Of zeal from that through which they
placed you In it. Yes, sir, | submit il
70 your discretion To keep concealed
from your friends and your country
what led you to take part in our con-
feIeracy, which you pledged yoursell
10 me TO back with all your property,
worth, as you stated, 200 600 guineas,
TO join ana support Us at New Orleans
NJ the head OF 1000 TO 5000 men TO leave
with me, besid, your oral and written
guarantee OF indemnity for all my loss
es, n private cipher, the inscrutable We
hicle Of our correspondence Rfterward
to commit the shabby treason OF de.
serting from your parent by affinity,
aud your severe gn in expectancy, and
then, finally, In your letters TO your
Governor TO Willy your father-in-law,
and perpetrate an open perjury by
publicly denying all priyity or cOnnec-
tiOn with his views or projects. AS
suredly, sir, picture Of this kind on
which / have OCCASIONALLY worked
during the last four years cannot, you
must imagine, be viewed by your DEM
ocratic friends with less horror than n
deaths head in q phsntasmagoria and
yet, after all my labOrs, l feel no wish
to exhibit IL TO vindicare my own char
acter in assOcisting with Mr.. Burr and
yourself i'm the judgment of the mobili-
" OF the low people, or TO appease the
impotent vindictiYeness OF Mr.. Jefier-
son aud his miserable partisans. The
fact is, / have survived all the labors
of body and mind imposed upon me by
the evil genius Of Jefferson and OF
Burr, except the remaining one Of ex-
posing both. But 1 must bequeath TO
nv children and friends a memorial Of
that honor, loyalty and courage, TO
which you and / made our first offer
ing on entering into the association,
but which you did not follow with me
ia the expedition such a remembrance,
containing sketches of Mr.. Burr's cab
met and correspondence with myself
and other associates; the history Of my
interviews and consultations with Mr..
Aston relative TO Mr.. Burr's designs
upon New Orleans aud Mexico, with
ample reference TO letters and other
rare aud original documents that will
be lodged in Charleston or Philadel-
phia for the inspection Of the cur Gus;
the whole, sir, Is now ready for the
press, but shall not be sent away for
publication until you shall have failed
TO announce your compliance with the
engagements Of honor herein required
OF you by forwarding Il credit for $l5,-
600 payable as before mentioned, aud
accompanied with your obligation, or
some other equivalent proposal, for ad-
jusling the balance. Now, sir, to con-
clude. yOI may gather from what you
have read that hold myself bound by
no obligations of secrecy 10 anyone
whO has broken faith with me, provid-
Cd the disclosure work no injury 10 an
innocent third person. That you may
have full notice, have no objection In
apprisirg you OF the nature and design
OF the proposed publication; but 20
give you oppoi tunity Of keeping it out
Of view, BY discharglng the debt Of
honor you have contracted, whereby
In doing an act OF justice, you will pre-