Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-08-14

left upon his character the deepest
stain 1t bears.
When the result was almost GER
tainly known, although the returns
were not fully received, Colonel Burr
addressed a letter to Samuel Smith
a member Of the house of repre-
sentatives from Maryland, and de-
voted friend of Mr.. Jefferson. To
have sought an election by the house,
after the publication Of that letter
would have been an act Of folly
from which an idiot would have
shrunk. He says to General Smith
1T is highly probable that I shall
have an equal number Of votes with
Mr.. Jefferson; but, II such should be
the result, every man who knows me
ought to know that I would utterly
disclaim all competition. Be assured
that the Federal party can entertain
no wish for such an exchange. AS TO
my friends, they would dishonor my
views and insult my feelings by a sus-
picion that I would submit to be In
strumental in counteracting the wishes
and expectations of the United States.
And now constitute you my proxy to
declare these sentiments If the occa-
sion should require"
Notwithstanding the emphatic and
earnest disclaimer contained In this
letter Of all intention to engage In
contest with Mr.. Jefferson, the Fed
eral party, for their own purposes,
determined to run him. Nothing
could have been further from the
mind of Alexander Hamilton than
a desire to promote the election OF
his rival, yet nothing could have
been more gratifying to him than to
see him engaged in contest which,
terminate as it might, was sure to
blacken his character and destroy his
popularity with the nation. To this
end all his powers Of intrigue were
directed, and he succeeded but TOO
we'll in the object he had in view.
Colonel Burr was no candidate,
sought no support and emphatically
disclaimed all desire to receive 1t.
That support was forced upon him,
and then he was held responsible for
what he had done all in his power to
prevent The worlds history does
not present an instance Of more glar-
ing injustice, nor is there one, in the
long list of statesmen who fill
its pages, in whose person the blind
ness of partisan zeal and the merci-
less nature of partisan persecution Is
more completely illustrated.
Mr.. Jefferson was finally elected.
His mind was then just in that state
when the fires of rancorous hate are
most easily kindled, and there were
those about him who did not fail to
apply the match. Aaron Burr soon
became a marked man, and when 1t
was known that his political destruc-
ton had been resolved upon by the
president, ten thousand tongues and
pens were found ready to assail him.
The storm he could not avert; but
he neither bent before IL, or covered
at it's fury. Calm, and seemingly
unconscious of the active malignity
Of his enemies, he went on to dis
charge the duties of his high office.
with a grace, dignity, and an abil-
ity which has never since been
equaled. But Colonel Burr was not
idle, nor had he the least idea OF
falling an unresisting victim. The
vice-presidency for a second term
he knew was beyond his grasp
Mr.. jefferson was all powerful at the
time, and in that quarter Colonel
Burr had no hope. That he would
be left off the ticket he never for q
moment doubted. Under these cir
cumstances, he resolved to pursue
the course he had pursued with sc
much success on a former occasion
and appeal directly to the people OF
New York. A gubernatorial election
was coming on, and in February
1904, he announced himself an inde-
pendent candidate for the office
The whole weight of the administra-
ton was at once thrown against him
and all of Hamilton's talents Of in
trigue were actively and necessarily
employed to insure his defeat. L,
was a strange union-Jefferson anc
Hamilton-but hate accepts the SER
vices of any ally. and both of them
hated and dreaded Burr too much tc
stand on scruples. By their joint ef'
forts he was defeated; and he thu:
saw go out his last hope of politica
advancement
A few weeks after the election, or
balmy night in June, when Colone
Burr was in his own house, sur
rounded by select company o.
friends, as gay and apparently a:
happy as if nothing had occurred tC
annoy him, the following note wa!
put into his hands,
"One who has much to communi
cate to you in reference to the past
which it concerns you to know, Il
now stretched upon a bed or death
and earnestly requests that you vii
come to see him as soon as may be-
There was no signature, and, max
ing a polite excuse to his friends
Burr followed his servant from TIT
room to inquire who had brough
the note. He was told that the mes
senger was at the door.
Then show him into the library
When the man entered, he ask
ed
WHO gave you this note?"
"A man who is dying at my house
don't know his name"
who are you?"
The keeper of a boarding g-hous'
on -- street, and a friend o
yours"
After satisfying himself upon som'
other points, Colonel Burr said,-
Tell the gentleman 1 will call to
night"
He told me to bring you with me.
THAT is impossible. l have com
pany; but say to him will be ther'
before midnight"
The messenger departed, and Colo
mel Burr returned to his parlor with
| out a trace of anxiety on his brow