Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1885-10-29
From the PHILADELPHIA Times.

Those who desire to ascertain truth
and who will Judge as men desiring
to do right, who believe charity to be
a virtue and who consider that their
judgments Of characters of men ought
to be formed in that merciful spirit
Of Justice which they themselves may
require in passing down the uncer-
tain road of life may not believe that
Aaron Burr was guilty Of "high trea-
son." 1t is not a single act OF right
OK wrong which should determine the
character of an individual. His true
character can only correctly be un.
derstood by following him through
life, analyzing his deeds and discover.
ing whether o. not the principles
which governed him were virtuous.
Few men in this life will bear criti
cal examination into every act and
If every man is to be damned in pub
lio estimation because one or two dark
spots NAV be found in the midst OF
many bright ones, then we venture
I'm aaaRstiaG thas .,s sar.-s~ '-.a''1'
in as sing safely the in.
vestigation of every ordeal.
We find in the history of Texas by
Gen. Mosley Baker, Texas veteran, one
of the Spartan band at San Jacinto,
who gives the particulars Of Aaron
Burr's purpose in his intended expe.
dition against Mexico not in the way
as intended to settle the disputed in.
.entions of Burr. but as part and
parcel of the history Of Texas. He
makes use of the Burr incident among
other responsibilities of the United
States government in respect to the
Texas revolution. He does it to clear
ly represent other important occur
rences and other important personages.
Belief In Burr's Guilt.
General Baker was a student of
William Craven, an English gentle
man who had been associated with
Burr, and who, with Burr, was ar.
rested in the vicinity of the Tombig
bee river. in Alabama, and conveyed
to Richmond, Va, for trial. Rich
mond was at the time the very focus
of Jeffersonianism and the public
,aind was already prepared for Burr's
conviction. Never, perhaps, in any
country was there greater unanimity
of opinion upon any subject than that
of Burr's guilt of high treason. Never.
perhaps, was there greater display
Of talent and sloquence and never
was there a more patient, fair and
impartial trial. Had chief Justice
Marshall never before. or after, per.
formed q virtuous act, the decision of
the court in Burr's case ought to
have immortalized him. Rumor, with
her thousand tongues, had been busy,
and President Jefferson, with all his
noble qualities, possessed some Of the
f.ailties Of man, and he perhaps re-
ceived as truth the created 6ctions
concerning Burr sintended treschery.
William Craven was Bakers pre-
.ceptor, and was a gentleman whose We
rscity among those who knew him well
wa. like unto Ce1ar'a wife's-beyond
g suspicion. From Craven Baker
learned the following:
Mr.. Craven had been one Of q large
firm in London who were engaged in
the Mexican trade; had resided many
years at the City Of Mexico, and had
daily opportunities Of witnessing the
to which the mass of the
people had been reduced by the
hangkty and tyrannical aides de- camp
OF the Spanish government; that in
consequence Of heavy losses he was
compelled to emigrats TO the United
States. At the city of Washington
he, amongother distinguished citizens,
was introduced to Mr.. Burr, with
whom he contracted the most intimate
acquaintance, and their intercourse
was characterized by frank and cor.
dial friendship. Burr inquired OF
him very particularly touching the
political. moral and social condi.
tion Of the Mezicans, and received
all theinformation which many years
experience in Mexico had enabled him |
to collect. He informed Burr that
the mass Of the people were ignorant,
supsrstitious and unacquainted with
their rights, but that there were many |
among them destined for distinction,
and among these there was scarcely
man thatSwas not restless and discon-
tented under the reigning gorern.
ment, and only needed come encour.
agement from abroad to enable them
to undermine the Spanish dynasty
and PROSTATE its already crumbling !
columns To the earth.