Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-04
THE LAWYERS MEET.
,r ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE
VIRGINIA MAR ASSOCIATIONS
REPORTS OF THE OFFICERS,
49,. Address of the President, Ssn.
.,.utiam Writ Henry--The Trial of
Aaron Burr His Thcme-Another
RIAL.

- held at this beautiful and famous
81 Many lawyers. in many in
,.ss accompanied by their wives
"a daughters. are in attendance from all
It's Of the state. The ctiicont secretary
I, tho association. Mr.. T. c. Massie, in
A., report. states the membership at l22
,,s calls attention 10 the fact that only
,.rse states-vlz.: New York. Pennsyl-
.,n.a and Michigan-have larger mem
,,rship in their associations.
Tire treasurers report shows balance
n Esi on hand.
Tho meeting was called 20 order by
,fr. Jackson Guy. the chairman OF the
Executive Committee at II O'Clock in the
morning. and he, in a few well-chosen
words. introduced the Hon. w. w. Henry
the president Of the association. who at
once delivered the annual address, hold
ing the closest attention Of the large
audience from the beginning 10 the end,
his subject being the Trial Of Aaron
Burr for Treason.
Mr. Henrys critical audience seemed
20 agree that It was the equal OF any
address heretofore delivered before the
association, which Is high praise.
THE ADDRESS.
''ro be honored by my brethren" said
Mr. Henry us 10 me an honor indeed
and this honor is greatly enhanced In
vaue when ! consider the personnel Of
,bis association and the distinguished
lurists who have preceded me as its
presiding officers. Indeed. when we con-
Iider the high character which has al
WAYS been borne by the Virginia Bar,
the genius and requirements which have
distinguished so many OF its members.
ye may be justly proud of the past. while
we should feel in view Of that past the
vrester responsibility Of the present and
Inc greater obligations towards those
who are 20 succeed us.
And IN performing the duties incum-
bent upon us" continued the speaker. eve
.annOt too often seek inspiration from the
examples Of those who have made the
pace Of our history glorious. Indeed, 1t
4 the special duty Of our association to
Keep green their memories. Thoughts
ike these have determined me in the
address 1t becomes my duty TO make on
This occasion. TO direct your attention for
brief period 10 a great case which
ninety gears ago brought the Richmond
BAR prominently before the Continent.
tnd won Tor IL the distinction of being
iho equal 10 any. II not the ablest. bar
IN the United States. 1t was a case in
which our greatest Judge presided over
the trial Of a man great in intellect and
Qosltion indicted for the greatest Of all
crimes by tho most distinguished grand
jury that was ever impanelled, and in
which both the prosecution and defence
Included some of the foremost advocates
Of the day.
THE case I have selected is the trial
Of Aaron Burr for treason in the year
lsI before the United states Circuit
Court at Richmond. Before entering
upln his trial let me recall some Of the
prominent events I'm the life OF Aaron
Burr II there be any. truth In the claim
that talents are hereditary. Aaron Burr
was entitled 20 the great talents ne
possessed by right Of Inheritance. His
father n Presbyterian divine, was man
OF extraordinary intellect, OF great learn
ing. and Of commanding eloquence. Sc
lccted as the second president Of Prince
Ton College. he for nine years directed
its affairs laying the foundation Of that
great school OF learning The beautiful
and gifted daughter of the great Jona-
han Edwards was the mother Of Burr. But
il moral qualities like physical and mem
tai characteristics. are likewise heredi-
tary. Aaron Burr exhibited a notable
exception 10 the rule. His parents were
both deeply pious but botn died while he
was youth. and ne early developed an
alarming tendency towards irreligion, as
CARDS faith and immortality in regard
TO conduct.
HIS MODEL.
ON ruth he deliberately discarded
So Paul as q model I'm manners and con-
duct ard selected as his model the polish
Cd and immoral Lord Chesterfield. In !
doing this he turned his back on the sin
Ccre piety and uprightness of his parents, |
and u.der the exterior Of a polished gem
f.nan he concealed the depraved morals |
Of O. Rochester The bravery and genius |
of Burr. however brought him promo |
uou 'n the army as commander OF |
@ regiment and he showed himself an |
accomplished soldier At the end Of the |
war DE did not lay aside its arts. but |
carried them into his chosen profession |
the law-and indeed. into every walk /
OF nfe lie worked for victory in every /
enterprise and he hesitated not at any /
means which were necessary 10 accom- l
IIsh his ends. The destruction OF those /
who stood I'm his way was his object, and |
any arifco TO effect this he deemed |
meutorous. At the close Of the Revoiu-
ton Burt married and settled In the
city OF New York as a lawyer and very
soon Dc ana Alexander Hamilton were
recognized as leaders Of the bar. But
bis restless spirit was not satisfied with
The iriumphs Of his profession. lie en-
'gred the arena Of politics. In this MS
Iso was so rapid as TO be without pre-
ttIrut In 1888 he was elected TO the
legislature OF New York. in 1879 was
made Attorney General OF the state, In
lal Dee was .iected a senator Of the
l4Hcd states i'm 1892 he was nominated
ior he Supreme Court Of the state which
BE- declined: In 800 he was voted for
e President Of the United states. re-
Giving The same number Of votes as Mr.
.lersou Inc election was thereupon
t.onn into the House Of Representa-
wes. where after a prolonged struggle,
se-ersou was elected President, ana as
hs Constitution then provided. Burr
VIC received the next highest vote be
came Nice-President. In that high office
be conducted himself with distinguished
e'ltr. During his term the impeach-
'nt of Judge Chase was tried In the
...ate and his conduct as presiding
vt'or was said 10 be worthy OF all
N-se
PROVED HIS RUIN
3g, before his term expired he was
t-.y Of an act which proved 10 be his
,ln Both az the bar and In politics
But. and Hamilton had been opponents
sNl rivals FOR years. Hamilton had been
.illent In expressing 10 his friends ana
yNeis his low estimate OF Burr's moral
e-aiac'cr. and some one had been still
I9'e imprudent In putting Hamilton's
YA'on Of Burr in newspaper. Burr
y seems tho publication. addre ssed