Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-02-09

politics was foreman ofthe grand jury.
John Randolph Of Roanoke The most
s~cintillating orator Of the time was the
chief counsel for the government. viii
liam Writ. for le yesrs attorney gen.
eral of the United States. The principal
lawyer for the defense was ''the Federal
Bulldog" who knew more law and
could drink more wine than any man
betwixt the two oceans, Luther Mar
tin of Maryland The main witness for
the prosecution, the greatest liar known
among men since Ananias and Sapphire
had their i'll starred land transaction.
the most v~ariegated rascal of whom
American history tells, who, while wear
ing his country uniform, sold her to
the Spaniards, and who, posing as Burr's
friend. sold him to the government
Brigadier General James Wilkinson.
Back of the prosecution and urging it
OIL with all the powers of a mighty ma
ton, animated by lofty patriotism and
personal hate. stood the profoundest
philosopher that ever devoted his life to
politics. the most intense lover Of hu-
manity in the lump that ever lived. the
most iconoclastic leveler that has ap-
peared on earth since Christ was cruel
fed. the only redheaded man that was
ever chief magistrate Of this Republic,
the immortal Virginian, Thomas Jeffer-
son.
The "Backwoods Ruman."
As a witness for the defense D
ed, "a certain tall backwoods rufian,"
as the newspapers Of that day termed
him, who ~harangued the multitude
from the stoop Of a hotel in such a vio-
lent manner that he choked with his
own rage, who then, comparatively I'M
known to fame, was destined TO per-
form the most astounding feat of arms
since the art Of war was first bruited
among men. to render his country and
the cause Of human freedom inestima-
BILE services as a statesman, 10 DO hailed
as the foremost man Of all this world
and to win renown that will never,
never die-Andrew jackson Of Tennes-
see.
As q spectator Of that astounding
scene was youth Of abnormal physical
proportions veritable giant-a ia
nous son Of Anak-a student Of the pa
cifc profession Of the law, fated to a
fighting career in which he won mill
tary laurels from the heart Of frozen
Canada to the ancient halls of the Mon
tezumas, TO be a lieutenant general Of
the United States and the worst defeat
ed candidate for the presidency ever
nominated by a great party-Winfeld
Scott
At the reporters table sat a hand
some, intelligent figure, born to be our
most distinguished man of letters, min
lister plenipotentiary and envoy extra
ordinary to the court Of Spain and
founder of the American school of hu-
Observation-Disclosures Irving Of blessed
memory.
But above them all towers Burr, the
central figure. the prisoner at the bar,
the keenest intellect and finest lawyer
in the lot absolutely certain of his
technical innocence Of high treason,
the crime with which he was charged,
whose punishment was death upon the
galiows tree, smiling in the faces of
his prosecutors and his prosecutors and
defying them to their very teeth
Even a man who believes him guilty
and who detests treason may still ad-
mire this soldier of the Revolution, the
companion of Arnold and the friend of
Montgomery. the grandson Of Jonathan
Edwards, the son Of President Burr Of
Princeton. the slayer Of Alexander
Hamilton. ex-vice president Of the
United States, as he steps forth ruined,
but free, into Gods sunshine; for Grim
inal though he was, destitute OF a moral
sense as the beasts that perish. stiIl he
had demonstrated that he possessed
many Of those qualities which men ap-
plaud and women love.
Aaron Burr and Matthew Quay,
Aaron Burr and Matthew Stanley
Quay are both Warwicks, president
makers. if not king makers; greater in
deed than the original Warwick. as an
American president is greater than an
English king. Nothing is clearer in all
history than that Aaron Burr made
Thomas Jefferson president and that
Matthew Stanley Quay performed the
same Office for Benjamin Harrison
Both Burr and Quay cut tremendous
swaths in politics. The history Of the
republic cannot be truthfully written
and leave them ont Both are sons of
Presbyterian preachers, and both were
indicted for felony. There the parallel
ceases-by comparison very much to the
credit of Burr, for he, broken in fortune
and without official position, boldly and
manfully fought his enemies on their
own ground and conquered them.
while a majority Of his fellow citizens
were clamoring for his blood He
sought no delay. he INDUCED in no sub
terfuge, he interpoSed no cowardly mo-
tons; he planted himself on the laws Of
his country with the same magnificent
courage with which he stormed the
heights Of Quebec. and coolly babe his
aecusers to lay on and spare not.
Quay, a senator Of the United States.
renominated for another six years the
unquesticned boss Of his state. with one
powerful friend his senate mate. anoth-
er in the governors chair, another in
the White House. scores Of others In
high places in state and nation, resorts
20 every expedient known to the most
astute legal practitioners 10 stave of
the inevitable ordeal He presents a
sorry q pititul, a contemplate appear
anee when compared with the leonine
Burr, who Is accounted the sinner para
mount Of his aga Every criminal law
yer IN the land knows full well that
Quay's applications for c~cntinuances
nd changes Of venue. his motions to
Quash. and bis other Efforts TO gain
time mean that he and his lawyers are
afraid 10 face "a jury Of his peers--
God = the markl-until be can stand
before them panopied in 3 new sena-
torial t1Ea. hoping 10 oYerawe them BIZ
IL rustic and IL sheen
Il Is aid By tho.e who know him
vel that in private life be IL the most
zmiahle q men. = kind husband. . dot
ing father. q tender friend and chadta-