The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-03
Justice i'm Behalf
OF Aaron Burr.
His Attitude Toward Hamilton Strongly
Defended and His Merits Pointed Out.

of that excellent paper a spirited de-
fense OF Aaron Burr. which Is presented
here for what 1t is worth. Stys he:
No public man in American history
has met with SO much undeserved OBJ
loquy as Aaron Burr. A revolutionary
patriot, and brave and skillful sol
dier, legislator and attorney general OF
New York, a senator in congress and
yice-president of the United States, his
name has been for ninety years the
synonym for almost every crime In the
calendar, including treason and muir
der, and yet had 1t not been for the un-
happy duel which equally terminated
the life of Hamilton and his own public
career, he would have been still remem-
bered as a politician OF unequaied
adroitness, as a statesman of fair abil-
ities, as a successful lawyer and as the
almost ideal man of the world.
The story of the duel has been told
many times, but the most popular ac-
counts of it have been written by par
tisans of Hamilton who can see no fault
in the character or actions of their hero,
while they picture Burr as an unrelent-
Ing Mephistopheles, vindictive and re-
v.rgeful. th':sting for the blood of his
victim. They charge that he forced
Hamilton into the duel, and that he de-
libe lately placticed pistol shooting In
his garden at Richmond Hill every
morning during the interval between
the challenge and the meeting. so that
his aim might be all the more deadly.
and they quote Hamilton's own inten-
ton of throwing away his first shot. as
II Burr ought to be fully aware OF that
fact, and was therefore all the more
criminal in firing upon a practically
unarmei man. All this is absurd. lf
ne practiced pistol shooting he was
strictly within his rights. for II per-
sonal difficulties are to be adjusted on
the field Of honor a man must go pre-
pared to disable or kill his enemy, and
must consequently possess some skill
in the use of firearms. which does not
como by nature, but by practice. AS to
forcing the duel he certainly had cause
enough according to the code" for
demanding nganexplanation an of the opinion
attributed to Hamilton, which he point
ed out. and as for not firing at him
when on the ground how could he
know what Hamilton's secret inten-
tions might be? A duel Is not particu-
larly childs play, and particularly 1t
was no. in those days.
But this Is the sort Of stuff that has
been written on this historic duel, all to
the prejudice of Burr and to the exon
Grafton of Hamilton.
Their Early Careers.
Burr and Hamilton We're nearly Of the
same age, according to the received
accounts, Burr being about a year the
elder, though doubt has been often ex-
pressed as to Hamilton's reputed age
at that time. They were young men
together on Washington's staff and In
the revolutionary army. After the war
they were admitted to the bar about
the same time and commenced practice
in New York city. where they soon rose
to eminence, sometimes being engaged
on the same side of case, but more
frequently being opposed to each other.
In politics Burr took the popular or Re-
publican side, Hamilton the Federalist,
and here again they were leaders. In
society they met as friends. and their
families interchanged visits. Burr
lived in a fine mansion on Richmond
Hill, now in the very heart of New
York city, in a house in which Vice
President John Adams had resided
while New York remained the seat Of
government. Here he entertained law
ishly. and no distinguished strangers
ever came to the city without being par
takers Of Colonel Burr's hospitality.
Hamilton often dined there.
Hamilton lived in the city. but in the
summer resided at a country seat seven
miles out, which he called 1.-The
Grange" He also entertained Burr and
his wife and daughter
So these men advanced toward middle
life as rivals and friends, though the
friendship was only on the surface.
They were indeed predestined fes, and,
both being believers In the dueling code,
1t was as certain as fate that sooner
or later they must meet. From all the
accounts that have come down to us
there never was time In the acquaint-
ence that Hamilton had confidence in
Burr's character or integrity. To his
Cwn intimates he expressed his feelings
in letters and in other ways in un-
mistakable terms.
HamiIton's Severe Criticisms.
As early as Sept. q. 1892. when Burr
was one Of the senators from New York
in the senate of the United States, and
an aspirant for the vice-presidency,
Hamilton wrote Of him confidentially
to q friend: II fear he Is unprinci-
pied both as a public and a private
man. When the constitution was in
deliberation his conduct was equivo-
cal: but his enemies, who, 1 believe.
best understood him, considered him as
with them. In fact, take 1t, he Is
for or against nothing, but as 1t suits
his interest or ambition. He is de-
termined, as l conceive, to make
his way to the head of the popular par
ty, and to climb per fas aut nefas to
the highest honors of the state, and
as much higher as circumstances may
permit. Embarrassed, as I understand,
in his circumstances. with an extrava-
giant family, bold, enterprising and In
triguing, I am mistaken if 1t be not
his object to play the game Of confu-
sion, and believe 1t to be a religious
duty to oppose his career"
On Sept. 26 he again writes ito another
friend: "Mr. Burrs integrity as an In
dividual IL not unimpeached As pub
lie man he is one OF the worst sort. q
friend to nothing but as It suits his IN
terest and ambition. Determined to
climb to the highest honors of the state.
and as much higher as circumstances
may permit, he cares nothing about the
means of effecting his purpose.
In a word, II we have an embryo
Caesar IN the United States. it's Burr"
Burr was candidate for the vice.
presidency In 1896 and again In 1900
when his tie vote with Jefferson
brought him within an ace Of the presi-
dad,nu Of coiirsa IL WAS the inften tinu