The Irish standard., 1901-10-19

lue AUuuuUlluS VI CuclI enterprises
the seizure Of their stores and finally
of the arrest of Burr. The militia was
relieved from service, the arms were
returned to Newport and Major Mar
tin was complimented by the war de,
partment in the form of a hundred
dollar raise in his annual pay.
Cincinnatians then returned to theil
ordinary occupations and began to for
get the Burr episode. Senator Smith
left the city ON important business. He
had been called upon to supply the
army with more than 1900 barrels of
flour, 10000 gallons of whisky, 1000
gallons Of vinegar, besides beef pork
and other contract articles"
When evidence began coming in
against Burr his association with Sen
ator Smith was supposed to take ON q
new significance and the unfortunate
circumstances told heavily against the
Cincinnati merchant in spite of his ac-
tive service at the critical time. While
he was in the south getting provisions
to General Wilkinson his arrest was
ordered, and finally the United States
grand jury, sitting at Richmond, Va,
indicted him for treason. He was
never brought to trial because the case
against Burr failed, but the legislature
of Ohio, in the heat of excitement,
passed resolution condemning his
acts, and it is from his own defense
before the senate committee the fol
lowing extracts are quoted:
Gentlemen, I will give you a gen.
eral view of my conduct as it relates
to Colonel Burr. In September, 1906,
the servant of Burr came to me with
note expressing wish to tarry few
days at my house. returned the an,
swer which hospitality required, and
admitted him to my plain and homely
fireside. In doing this I, who am
Virginian by birth and education, acted
but in conformity with those principles
of hospitality I imbibed in my youth.
Was this crime? Not 20 months be-
fore / had witnessed an unanimous
approbatory vote of the senate respect
ing the conduct of this man as the
chief Of their body. l had seen the
members Of that body dissolved in
tears after his departure. had known
the president (Jefferson) to extend to
this man the rights Of hospitality-with
this knowledge and without the least
intimation of any design to do wrong
on his part-I yielded to his request.
l extended liberal hospitality as far as
my humble lot would admit.
ITO make him comfortable and hap
py l invited the most respectable peo-
pie Of our infant town to come, and
with him and me partake of simple
and rural festive board. He tarrled
five or six days and then progressed
on his journey.
Meanwhile the voice Of suspicion
was raised against him, and although
I knew as little as any Of you of his
objects in visiting the western states,
still, as entertained him according to
my own sense of propriety, felt I'M
easiness in consequence Of these re-
ports Accordingly / wrote to him:
Having an opportunity of writing
line by one Of Blcnnerhassett's do
InaStinc + Nor loova +o ;nfov,,, 49,, 41,,4
we have in this quarter various reports
prejudicial to your character. 1t is be-
lieved by many that your design is to
dismember the Union. Although l do
not believe that you have any such de-
sign, yet l must confess from the mys-
terry and rapidity Of your movements
that have fears, let your object he
what it may, that the tranquility Of
the country will be Interrupted, unless
1t be candidly disclosed, which solicit
and to which presume you nave n0
objection
ITO this received an answer that,
rs l did not doubt his integrity and
truth, lulled my suspicious and once
more induced me to render him that
confidence to which an honest man is
always entitled. Burr replied from
Lexington, Ky:
:" L was greatly surprised and really
hurt by the unusual tenor Of your let.
ter, and ! hasten to reply to it as well
for your satisfaction as my own If
there exists any plan to separate the
western from the eastern states ann
totally ignorant OF it, l never har-
bored or expressed any such intention
to anyone, nor did anyone ever init
mate such design to me. u, -, -, y
/" 'Hhis is the first letter OF sexplana-
ton which / hare ever writtensto any
man and willspreb abay Ra HE last. 1t
was perhaps due tosthe frankness Of
your character and to the friendship
you once bore me. shall regret to
see that friendship so greatly val
ued must he sacrificed OF calumny.
BE assured that no change on my
part can ever alter my desire of being
useful to you and I pray you to ac-
cept my warmest wishes for your hap
piness. A. BURR
1T may be unnecessary caution,
but l never write for publication
HAftn,,yrord Co1o,,o1 D,,.,,.