The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-07-12
COMMENCEMENT ESSAY.
Read at the High school commencement Jun
is, 1858.
THE FALL OF AARON BURR,
BY EDWIN 4. CHURCH.

vi winch the coming lie - mace,
And fill our future atmosphere
With sunshine or with shade.
The tissues the life to 5e,
We weave in colors all our own.
And, in the field Of destiny,
We reap as we have sown."
How sadly true is this OF the life Of
Aaron Burr. OF him whose name might
have echoed down the corridors OF time
rs symbol OF the purity he sacrificed,
Of the power he aspired to and Of the
manhood he lost.
Aaron Burr sprung from . noble an
cestry. His father was the Rev. Aaron
Burr, the learned and devout President
Of Princeton college. His mother was q
daughter OF that noted divine, Jonathan
A. Edwards, and was one Of the most
beautiful intelligent, Christian ladies Of
her time.
The parents Of Aaron Burr died when
he was but three years old. He was
placed under the protection and guiding
care Of one DR.. Bellamy, an immoral and
unprincipled man, from whom he re-
ceived his youthful education.
Aaron Burr was twice State Represen.
tative Of New York, once Attorney Gen.
eral Of New York, once United States
Senator, once Vice President, and once
dent OF the United States.
One 1t the first things to arouse the
suspicious Of the people against him was
AZ rr,,J,,n% -, Aha D.nC,Ins.ksol n1nVks<sv,
OF 1900. Jefferson and Burr were placed
upon the Republican ticket, ~ candi-
dates for President aud Vice President.
BY the Constitution at that time the one
receiving the highest number Of electoral
votes was declared President, aud the
one receiving the next highest number,
Vice President. Owing to q division in
the ranks of the Federalist party, the
Republicans carried the election, aud
Jefferson and Burr received each seventy.
three electoral votes. Az the vote was
tie, the election was referred to the
House of Representatives. In the Houee
OF Representatives the Fe<leralist party
held the controlling vote, aud Burr, in
his eagerness to become President, aban.
dOned the party whose principles he had
been advocating aud intrigued with the
Federalist party for their votes. The
Federalist party as whole were in Ia.
vor OF his election to the Presidency, but
Hamilton, knowing the true character OF
the man, used all his powerful influence
against him, and the thirty-sixth ballot
showed that Jefferson was elected Presi-
dent and Burr Vice President. Burr
never forgave this OF Hamilton, and
looked upon him from that hour as his
mortal enemy. Burrs conduct in the re-
cent election had destroyed all his iDfiu-
ence with his own party and he took up
the Federalist party as possible means
by which he might retrieve his failing
fortunes. He WAS nominated by that
party for the Governoship OF New York
in 1904. Once moro Hamilton brought
his powerful influence to bexr against
him. and IN q Federalist caucus proceed.
ing the election denounced him as an un-
ct man to hold that honored position.
He took no active part in the election,
but his opinion OF Burr was often quoted
BY those who did. The election resulted in
an utter defeat for Burr. This was more
than he could bear, and at once deter
mined to challenge him to mortal combat.
The rest Of tins sad page in our history
You know full too we'll. Hamilton fell.
Foil victim to the pride and jealousy Of
one whose talents might have gained for
him any position he desired. As for
Hamilton, his death was received with
profound sorrow. Not only did the
United States mourn, but the leading
nations OF Europe sent messages OF con.
doience to us. His funeral VAS one Of
the most imposing ever witnessed in the
United States. It alone test,fies to tho
esteem in rhich his countrymeu held
him. In him We lost our greatest stntes.
man and our greasest henefactOr.
How easy is the road TO ruin when
once the first step is taken. Bnrr, with
the ban Of public d,sapprovai atoa hlm,
was forced t. resign his seat IN Vice
President Of the Unitesi States. The
Senate, that august body, had set him
down as an utterly faithless, unprincipl-
"a man, but in his short but impressive