The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-31
es = =. - . s.s >. . - 81

confidence and without motive for mis-
statement is as convincing as It is posi-
BILE for human evidence to be. Take
what they assert as true. and DR. Chan-
ming is wrong. His "disreputable poll
tician" comes in at much later date.
Mr. Morris and Mr. Carroll viewed Burr
as political enemy. How was he re
garded by his political friends? Thomas
jefferson should be an authority on that
side. and his testimony given at the time
is precisely in line with that of MI. Car
roll and Senator Morris.
In a letter to Burr dated December Is,
1900 while congratulating the brilliant
New Yorker on his election as vice pres
ident Jefferson expresses a regret thai
he. Jefferson, will not have the benefit OF
Burrs services In his administration
evidently meaning the cabinet Il had
endeavored to compose administration
whose talents. integrity, names and dis
positions should inspire unbounded corr
fidence in the public mind, etc. lose
you from my list etc
Mr.. jefferson classes Burr among those
men of integrity who inspired unbound
ed confidence in the public mind. and
with whom he had expected to compose
his cabinet.
And there is nothing in Jefferson
writings. written at this time or pre-
vious TO this time, which is in contra
diction to what he wrote Burr.
CHAPTER NLIV.
Remaining at Albany and contentins
himself with a refusal to help the con-
spirators at Washington, Burr did moth
ing to defeat them. This attitude appear
ed to give Mr.. Jefferson satisfaction at
the time, for he wrote to his daughter
that the federalists had not been able 10
make a tool Of Burr and that the con-
duct of that gentleman had been honor
able throughout.
As day after day passed in the house,
and no election resulted, excitement rose
higher and higher throughout the coun-
try It was the middle Of February II
bv March there should have been no
choice Of president, regular government
would be at an end. There was no hold
over machinery which could be relied
upon. A new convention of states would
have to be called. perhaps. and this new
convention might make various changes
which numerous people did rot desire.
For instance. the south might Jose the
federal capital. and Delaware might lose
her statehood Evidently it was 10 the
interest of all parties that federalism
should not defy the country
Hotheads began to talk of fighting, and
in one or two places preparations Of
warlike character we're made. Threats
were heard that no federalst should have
the presidency. and that Thomas Jefferson
should be seated.
n Burr had been chosen there would
have been no revolt Mr.. Jefferson SAYS
this himself But the federalists could
no more extract Il pledge from him than
from Jefferson.
AT This crisis three factions entered the
problem and Influenced the federailsts 10
obey the people and prefer Jefferson.
One was the fear of the south as to
the capital; another was the rear OF
Delaware that Pennsylvania would alb
sorh her. and the third was the fear Of
Alexander Hamilton that Burr's eleVa-
tion would mean his own extinction.
A student of the situation will be I'M
pressed with the fact that. Independent
of Hamilton, the other two considerations
would have compelled the choice Of JET
ferson.
With Hamilton the least of his motives
was patriotic. His opinion of Jefferson
was as had a one as one man could
have Of another. But Jefferson did not
live in New York; Burr did, and that
fact made world Of difference. 1t was
simply intolerable to Hamilton to have
his detested local rival elected to tho
presidency and he exerted what infu-
ence he could to have jefferson chosen.
What that influence was is not SO
clear
Vermont. Della ware and Maryland were
the pivotal states and it is not certain
that Hamilton controlled either The
vote Of any one of these would he
enough to elect Jefferson. Pugnacious
and incorruptibe Matthew Lyon was
one of the representatives from Vermont
and the nephew of Gouverneur Morris
was the other. Gouverneur Morris was
senator from New York and had his
own Jealousy and dislike of Burr, his
own Independent ana honorable belief
that the choice Of the people should be
by congress, and favored JET
ferson from the first That his nephew
absented himsr@ ana allowed Lyon to
cast the whole vote of Vermont for
j Jefferson was probably due to the in7u-
ence Of the rich, adroit. powerful New
ork senator, Gouverneur Morris.
Maryland cast blank ballot at the
final vote, and who knows that HaniI-
Ton s influence caused her to do II? The
Tear OF losing the capital had intensely
eNclted Baltimore, and local Influences
* the strongest kind had been brought
to bear But when she ceased n vote
a sainst Jefferson, he no longer needed
her support
AS 10 Bayard, of Delaware he was the
Of the whole enjsoaa 1{s
extended his open palms in horn dirso-
'ons. seeking gifts Burr conld bava
bought the presidency through Bavard
) Jefferson could have arranged daa1
through Bayard Neither would +r.da
with him. Yet he voted for Burr tbfrt7.-
I'VE times and not once for jefferson on
lhe maj ballot when his vote did nat ~
lect the result, he voted a BLANK ,iooa %
paper In 1902 he explained his ,,ota -,
lhe moor of congress by saying that in
yohng Tor Aaron Burr he was sunnorttro
the one whom he thought the sroata1
ana better man" Yet scholarly Hon..
cabot Lodge and voluminous 11istorIa.,
Hildreth allege that Thomas 1efforsa,,
owed ms election to Bayard.
Evidence of this federaIist.s r,,,,,t,. -
furnished in a letter of his to H.,,i,+or.
Q8ol), in which he expresses conten,nt for
Burr because of his failure to "daooi..
phe blockhead and buy two corr,,ntio,-
ISIS. 1t was the vote of Matthew T,von
throwing Vermont to Mr. jefferson which
ehued the long contest and the fact tbar
Lyon would so vote was never douhte,,,
'hD I11t