The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-03-09
Politicians in the s'eood Old Times

President of the United States as a
witness. recalls the fact that this is
not the first but the second time
this sort Of thing has been attempt
ed. The first occasion ON which II
was resorted to was in the trial OF
the great New Yorker, Aaron Burr,
for alleged treason, and the President
who was then concerned was Thos
jefferson.
In Jefferson's case the attempt
was carried one step further that in
the recent case of President Cieve
land. In this latter affair the pre-
siding judge on the libel trial ALSO
lutely refused even to consider the
idea of summoning the President al
witness, but in the affair of Burr
President Jefferson was served with
a summons, to which he paid no at
tention.
The "reminiscences connected with
this Jefferson Burr affair are of in
terest not only in themselves, but
especially at the present time, when
Presidential politics absorb so mucl
attention.
People talk Of divided parties and
personal politics to-day, but the ear
ly times Of this republic we're polit-
ically even more divided" and "per.
sonal" than at this writing. Ant
no four political magnates Of to-day
are more bitterly unfriendly Will
each other than were George Wash
ington with Thomas jefferson ant
Aaron Burr, Jefferson with Wash
ington and Barr, Alexander Ham
ilton with Jefferson and Burr, ant
Burr himself with all the othel
three.
jefferson had been in Washing
toms Cabinet, but had not ego
along" with him, and after he lef
his Cabinet he indirectly used hi
influence against his former chief
Washington was aware Of this, ant
on one occasion publicly spoke o
Jefferson as ga profound hypo
crite.r
But both jefferson and Washing
ton agreed upon one point--a dis
trust of Aaron Burr. Washington
at one period had been friendly will
Burr, but the latter's loose social lif'
offended him, and subsequently
blinded him to his better quail
ties. And then Hamilton's in
fluence over Washington constantly
prejudiced the latter against Burr.
To such an extent did Washing
ton carry his distrust of Burr thai
when he recalled Governor Morris
from his mission to France he posi-
lively thrice refused to appoint Burr
as his successor, though such mer
as Madison and Monroe urgently
pressed the appointment.
AS for jefferson, he constantly re
garded, and with ample reason
Aaron Burr as his chief rival, for po-
litical place and popularity.
Nor did Jefferson hesitate to re-
sort to what would now be regarded
as undignifie1 and doubtful person.
al and political methods to get the
best of his rival. Thus he counted
himself in as President, as against
his fellow candidate Burr. by adj
hitting in his own favor the doubt.
full vote of Georgia.
And several Of the prominent men
who were originally in favor Of Aaron
Burr for President were induced by
promises Of future offices to change
their votes, il not their preferences,
from Burr to Jefferson.
Thus Congressman Finn, of New
Jersey, an original Burr man, chang.
ed his vote in Jefferson's favor and
received an appointment as revenue
officer under Jeffcrson's Administra
tion. Livingston, of New York, an
other original Burr man, voted fol
Jefferson, and was by him appointed
United States District Attorney Of
New York, while General Bailey,
who followed Livingston's example
was made by Jefferson Postmaster Of
New York city.
Yet in spite of Jefferson's active
and potential enmity, Aaron Burr
remained a power in New York
State and in national politics. Hi
house at Richmond Hill, near Green
wich Village, was the seat Of elegant
hospitality during Miss Theodosia'i
(Burr's daughter) time, and not onl,
were Volney, Tallevand, Louis Phi!
ippe and other distinguished strarg
ers entertained there by the yopne
lady and her father, but the Rich
mond Hill house became the rendez
vous of what might be called "tht
Young Democracy" of that day
-sthe little band" as they witt
rare modesty called themselves.
But finally Burr, after the due
with Hamilton, very generally
though very unfairly, lost his pres
tige and became, instead Of a patriot
soldier and statesman, a mere lad
venturer.'' And as such he started
a wild scheme, which his enemies
denounced as treason, and which
has passed into history as such. Ye
it is by no means certain that it wal
treason otter all. Burr and hi
friends said it was only "coloniza
ton scheme-his enemies claimed
that it was reasonable plot tt
make an empire in the Southwes'
and South. with Burr as Emperor.
jefferson naturally enough, took
the latter ground, and Aaron Bur
was tried for treason, Chief Justic'
Marshall himself presiding at TIL
trial.
jefferson, although President, die
not scruple to actively take part il
this trial against Burr--indirectly 0
course, but still most influentially
The witnesses against Burr wer'
constant visitors Of Jefferson's, ant
were often closeted with hin, ant
the whole power of the Administers
ton was used against the accused
But when Burr, with characteristic
tact and audacity, tried to turn th'
tables, and to summon his great en-
envy and successful rival, Jefferson
himself, to testify on certain impor
tant points of which he was cogni.
zant in his favor, then suddenly thu
Administrators became entirely pas
sive, and the President sheltered him
self behind technicalities and tht
adignity of his Office" He refused
to appear in public as witness fol
the man against whom he had in pri
- III, x>.o,ru xyf4uoouoo Z