The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-02
TRIAL OF AARON BURR
EVENTS THAT RESULTED IN HIS IN
DICTMENT FOR TREASON.
The Far-Reaching Schemes OF a
Brilliant and Ambitious Man and
Their Complete Collapse.


into Richmond. Va, under an armed guard,
and, after protracted hearings before Chief
Justice Marshall, was indicted and tried
for treason in levying war against the
United States and for misdemeanor in pre-
pairing the means of a military expedition
against Mexico, a territory OF the King
of Spain. with whom this country was at
peace. What, then, were the extraordinary
circumstances through which the man who
but lately had presided over the note
worthy impeachment trial of Samuel Chase,
now appeared as defendant in cause yet
more celebrated?
In December, 1903, the United States
gained possession by purchase of the gigan-
tic territory of Louisiana. General James
Wilkinson, commander-in-chief Of the ma
tionai forces, was appointed Governor OF
the province. His headquarters were at
New Orleans and under him was quite
respectable little army; for the Spaniards
across the river were eager to regain the
land which they had coded to France, and
there was continual trouble along the
frontier. Indeed, for the next three years
war with Spain was a contingency expected
and hoped for throughout this country.
In March, 1906, Aaron Burr stepped down
from the vice presidency OF the United
States a discredited and desperate man.
bankrupt in politics and fortune, yet filled
with untiring energies and extravagant
aspirations. Since his duel with Hamilton
he was precluded from existence, to say
nothing Of career. in the North; but
throughout the South and West he was
popular and respected as a victim of fac
tional hate. Burr had served with distinc-
A.
for the war with Spain as a sure means of
rehabilitation. He recognized the high serv-
ices which private legionaries might be to
the general government in such a struggle,
and in his fancy he saw himself as the
chief of such a band invading Mexico. van
gushing the dons, and reigning as emperor
over vast southern regions unsurpassed in
wealth and fertility. Did he see more?
That question has never been satisfactorily
settled He certainly was embittered against
the administration, and not without reason.
But whether his ultimate scheme was trea-
sonable or not, its first steps were predi-
Gated on the outbreak of a Spanish war.
Burr travelled through the West and
South as far as New Orleans. On his way
thither he stopped for day at an island in
the Ohio river, where q young Irishman and
wife named Blennerhassett were living in
romantic secusion. At New Orleans he met
his old friend, General Wilkinson, with
whom he had corresponded for years in
cipher, as was not uncommon in those days
of doubtful expresses. On al sides he heard
excavations against the Spaniards and de-
criticisms against the government at WASH
ington and reproach that Ii gave nothing
but taxes and officers chosen from the
East. Perhaps, though, he heard only what
he liked to hear.
A SEASON OF PREPARATION.
During 1906 Burr was very busy man,
and Blennerhassett was his enthusiastic ad-
herent. Contracts were let for great fiat
boats and store of provisions, and young,
vigorous men were sought as recruits. At
first 1t was stated that this was done in
expectation of war with Spain, but as the
year waxed and waned, and hostilities grew
more distant, instead of becoming immi-
nent, 1T was said that q colony was to be
formed in the Southwest to develop that
country and form an outpost whenever the
expected trouble should occur. And for
this purpose Burr bought a tract Of land,
100000 acres in extent on the Wichita river,
a tributary of the Red. OF course, such
preparations and purchase aroused in
numeraole rumors. Burr was summoned
before the United States Court at Frank
fort. KY. He appeared voluntarily. pro-
tested that his purposes were ''pesNeable
and agricultural and well understood by
the national authorities. and was triumph
antly acquitted from all suspicion.
But in November. 1906 President Jefferson
received word from General Wilkinson that
he had certain information from Burr him
self that Burr was organizing an armed
force for the purpose of revolutionizing the
West and forming a separate country, with
the Alleghanies as its eastern line and New
Orleans as its capital The President is
sued proclamations calling on the evil-dis-
posed to dispense and on local authorities to
enforce the law. A Virginia posse invaded
BlennerhaSsetts island, seized flatboats and
provisions, and scattered recruits. 1t also
ravaged the house and plantation. Al
washington there was vague alarm, daily
increasing, SO that in January, 1907, Con
gress gravely discussed suspending the ha-
beas corpus act. while the President sent
forth edicts innumerable and far reaching
warrants for Burr's arrest And al
and the town held as if for seige
Meanwhile, all unknowing, Burr was sail
ing down the Mississippi river with two
boats and few men, all armed. At Nat
chez he heard of the cOmmotion he had
caused, and surrendered to the Governor
of the Territory. His case was brought
only refused to indict. but presented that
his treatment was public grievance How
ever, the more Burr heard, the more
alarmed he became; and so he fled. In
Tombigbee river, in Alabama, having been
recognized, ii is said. on account of the
brilliancy Of his eyes. and was thence taken,
after long and perilous journey on horse
back through the wilderness, to Richmond,
where, as has been stated, he brought
before John Marshall, Chief Justice of the
L.
The proceedings which then ensued would
fill volumes, and folios at that. Until Aug
there was bewildering succession of ex-
aminations. motions, adjournments, at
tachments, and, above all, of wranglings
dignifed by occasion and learning into ar
gument. The people were represented by
Hay, Writ and McRae, of whom Writ was
easily the first. Burr had four counsel
Luther Martin. Randolph, Bolts and Wick
ham; but, imposing as was this array his
own legal attachments shone forth pre-.
M ha Cd nor
was pressed against Burr, and ne remained
at liberty. Later, when indicted for trea-
son, he was confined, but under unusual
liberties, In the penitentiary. In both con-
ditions he received constant social courte.
sizes, although the belief in his guilt was
so universal that one of the motions above
referred to was that he should be dis
charged, since he could not be fairly tried
Great delay was caused by the absence
of General Wilkinson, who was hurryine
from New Orleans-invariably termed Or
testify against his former friend. The fol-
lowing extract from the district attorneys
explanation of his nonappearance may bt
interesting as q picture OF the primitive
means OF communication in those days
Now, sir, suppose the United State:
mail. travelling by frequent change OF
horses and riders. one hundred miles a day
should reach Orleans in seventeen day:
from the federal city. ii would be the TWEEN
ty-fourth or twenty-fifth OF April before
General Wilkinson could have received hi:
this he has had thirty days TO reach Rich
mond. Could o journey of 1.5co miles b,
reasonably performed in thirty days? Wht
could bear a Journey of fifty miles per da,