Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-04

aaron Burr In this life. II not In the life
beyond. The fertile, restless brain of
ou.r. taking advantage OF conditions
when seemed more favorable for his de-
signs Than they really were. conceived
we ldea OF conquering Mexico. dividing
.ne Union by the Allegheny Mountains,
ana making himself the ruler Of new
empire embracing this vast territory, with
DIS capital at New Orleans.
November 9th the President issued
ms proclamation. announcing that UNI
lawful enterprises were on foot IN the
western States. warning all persons TO
Withdraw from the same without delay
and commanding ell officers. civil ana
military. 20 exert themselves to bring
The offending parties to punishment.
Burr was not mentioned by name in the
proclamation but 80 rife had been the
rumor OF his mysterious designs that he
was at once recognized as the leader or
the unlawful enterprise denounced. Be
fore this, however. he had passed through
a severe ordeal, which threatened TO ex-
pose his scheme 10 the public. The ef-
feet Of Mr.. Jcfferson's proclamation was
destructive Of Burr's plans. Most of the
boats builts for Burr were seized at Ma
rietta by the militia % the district. which
had been called out b. the authorities OF
Ohio"
THE TRIAL.
Mr.. Henry then gave a most graphic
account Of the trial. which was held IN
Richmond. and lasted from March 80
1901. for six months. ending In the jury
bringing in the following verdict: 1--WE Of
the jury say that Aaron Burr IL not
proved to be guilty under the indictment
by any evidence submitted to US. we.
therefore. find him not guilty" Mr..
Henry ended his admirable address as
follows:
I'm tracing this celebrated trial. my
thoughts have reverted 10 another in
dictment FOR treason within my memory
found IN the Federal Court at Richmond
March %. 1865. against a man greatly
superior in intellect TO Burr, and immeas-
urably above him in moral character. /
refer TO the indictment OF Jefferson Davis
the President Of the conquered Southern
Confederacy, under the dictation Of the
Infamous Underwood by a grand jury
composed OF free negroes. carpet-baggers
and scallawags. the first class intensely
ignorant. the others vermin, generated by
the festered wounds inflicted by the civil
war on the body polite. In looking over
the panel OF this jury ! recognize but
two names that | have heard Of before
one the renegade Virginian. George Rye.
and the other the colored barber. Lo-
max b. Smith, who so long kent a shop
under the Exchange Hotel He doubt.
less was the most respectable member OF
the jury.
WHAT A CONTRAST.
What a contrast with the jury which
indicted Burrl on December .. 1868 Mr.
Davis appeared in court. haggard and
worn by his long and cruel confinement
at Fortress Monroe, from whicir~>he had
not recovered after he had been allowed
bail Chief Justice Chase. an able ana
pure Judge. who had studied his profes
sion In the Office of William Writ pre-
sided over the court At his side in the
place of the pure and learned Cyrus Crit
fin. sat that paragon Of ignorance and
corruption, John G. Uut orwOod. Two Of
the most accomplished lawyers that ever
greed the American bar-Robert Ould
and Charles OConnor. appeared for the
defence. while r. II. Dana and II. II.
Wells, carpet-bagger, appeared for the
prosecution.
Mr.. jefferson, after whom Mr. Davis
was named. had long been in the grave,
but his influence on American institu-
tions was still powerful, and was all on
the side Of the accused: for II the right
OF revolution. embodied by him i'm the
Declaration Of Independence. as the very
foundation of Americas right 10 se~"-
rate government, was allowed, or the
Federal system was Il compact bttWer b
sovereign States. as he taught then Mr..
Davis was not a citizen. owing allegiance
to the United States Government after
the secession OF the Southern States,
when the war had been levied; and If not
a citizen owing allegiance to the United
States, he could not commit treason
against IL. on the motion to Quash the
Indictment the CHIEF Justice voted in
the affirmative, while Underwood voted
i'm the negative. Thereupon. the .ques
ton was certified to the Supreme Court
OF the United States; and If ever de-
cided by that court no certificate of the
fact has ever reached the lower court
But. on February II, 1869, the sureties
on the bail bond were absolved. and the
dropped. a happy solution
Of the difficult questions which confront
ed the Federal Government"
At the conclusion of MIR. Henry's ad-
dress the association took a recess I'M
til $50 p. VI.