Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-01-14
M}istellaueons geadiug,
AARON BURR.
THE ROMANCE OF THIS REMARKABLE
MAN..

Those who desire to ascertain the truth
and will Judge as men desiring to do right,
who believe charity to be 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 uncertain road
of life, may not believe that Aaron Burr
was guilty of "high treason" 1t is not
single act of right or wrong which should
determine the character of an individual.
His true character can only correctly be
understood by following him through life,
analyzng his deeds and discovering wheth-
er or not the principles which governed him
were virtuous. Few men in this life will
bear a critical examination into every act
and ifevery man is to be damned in public
estimation because one or two dark spots
NAV be found in the midst of many bright
ones, then we venture the assertion that
few will be found i'm any country passing
safely the investigation of every ordeal.
We find in the history of Texas by Gen.
Moseley Baker, Texas veteran, one Of the
Spartan band at San JacintO, who gives the
particulars of Aaron Burr's purpose in his
intended expedition against Mexico not in
the way as intended to settle the disputed
intentions of Burr, but as a part and parcel
of the history of Texas. He makes use of
the Burr incident among other RESPONSE
bilities of the United States government in
respect to the Texas revolution. He does
it to clearly represent other important oc-
currences and other important personages.
Gen. Baker was student of William
Craven, who had been associated with Burr,
and who, with Burr, was arrested in the
vicinity of the Tombigbee River, in Ala
bama, and conveyed to Richmond, Va,
for trial. Richmond was at the time the
very focus of Jeffersonianism and the pub
lie mind was already prepared for Burr's
conviction. Never, perhaps, in any coun-
try was there a greater unanimity of opin-
ion upon any subject than of Burr's guilt of
high treason. Never, perhaps, was there a
greater display of talent and eloquence and
never was there more patient, fair and
shall never before, or after, performed a
vrtuous act, the decision of the court in
Burr's case ought to have immortalized
him. Runor, with her thousand tongues,
had been busy, and President Jefferson,
with all his noble qualities, possessed some
of the frailties of men, and he perhaps, re-
ceived as truth the created fctions concern
ing Burr's intended treachery.
William Craven was Bakers preceptor,
and was gentleman whose veracity among
those who knew him was we'll like unto
Caesars wife's-beyond a suspicion. From
Craven, Baker learned the following:
Mr.. Craven had been one of large firm
in London who was engaged in the Mex
CITY of Mexico, and had daily opportuni-
ties of witnessing the degradation to which
the mass of the people had been reduced by
the naughty and tyrannical aides-de-camp
of the Spanish government; that in cOnse-
quence of heavy losses he was compelled to
emigrate to the United States. At the city
of Washington he, among other distn-
guished citizens, was introduced to MIR.
Burr, with whom he contracted the most
intimate acquaintance, and their inter
course was characterized by frank and
cordial friendship. Burr inquired of him
very particularly touching the political,
moral and social condition of the Mexicans,
and received all the information which
many years. experience in Mexico had en-
abled him to collect. He informed Burr
that the mass of the people were Ignorant,
superStitiOuS and unacquainted with their
rights, but that there were many among
them destined for distinction, and among
them there was scarcely a man that was not
restless and discontented under the reign
ing government, and only needed some en-
couragement from abroad to enable them
to undermine the Spanish dynasty and
prostrate its already crumbling columns to
| the earth.
He stated that Burr believed that his rep.
utation was lost in the United States If he
remained in the country that he was man
Of rare talents and requirements; that ne
was ambitious in the extreme and was ripe
for any enterprise that promised even a
hope of retrieving his character, and in any
attempt for that purpose: Burr intended to
signalize himself elsewhere, not doubling
but success would blunt the malice of many
of his enemies, and that this would in the
end enable him to atone for the death OF
Hamilton, for whose memory he cherished
the greatest respect, and declared that AL
eXander Hamilton had been used by worse
men for the purpose of getting rid of one or
the other, or if possible, both.
Burr's first step was to open correspon'
dence with some of the leading men in
Mexico, and then to traverse the Western
States, for the purpose OF sounding some ol
the most influential citizens of the Missis'
sippi valley, and that success in both under
takings surpassed even what they had been
wont to expect. 1t was found that many
men in the western country had ideas ol
conquest and fame. There were many such
men in the valley of the Mississippi, and in
all the Spanish donnions in America be:
|
them as disciples of freedom and furnished
the outline of a systematic plan for future
operations.
1t was suggested by citizens of the United
States that Burr should approach the from
tier of Mexico and establish his headquar-
ters on the Washita, within the limits of our
country, but that he peremptorally y declin-
ed. 1t was finally arranged that they
should float down the Mississippi and &c
on vessel at the Balize, which the king
pirate of the gulf, Latitte, was to have in
readiness, and sail for Galveston island
then in his possession. 1t was further un.
derstood that trading houses were to be es-
tablished among all the surrounding tribes
of Indians, for the purpose of buying their
friendship, and that, if possible by any
peaceable means, the inhabitants of the
old Spanish towns of San Antonio, Nacag-
dOches and others in Texas. The inhabi-
tants were to be conciliated and enlisted in
the cause by agents who, under the pretense
| of selling goods, were to reside in these
places. Shonld this ultimately fail the for
| tresses in Texas were to be taken forcible
possession of and used as depots as soon as
the patriots in Mexico were ready to coop
crate effectually. 1t was clearly understood
that no attempt whatever should be made
to dismember the United States or interfere
in any way with her people or her laws FUR
ther than the fact of connecting a scheme in
the country for the aforementioned pur-
pose.
Circumstances rendered it necessary to
get out of the Cumberland river much soon
er than time was afforded to complete all
arrangements, and no sooner was there an
appearance of danger than many of those
who had been most active in preparations
withdrew their support and forwarded in
formation to Gen. Wilkinson, then in COM
mand at New Orleans, which, together with