The Columbus journal., 1910-07-20
son, John c. Hamilton.

But, even then, on the final ballot
on which Jefferson was elected, of the
fifty.six Federalists in the house, only
four consented to barter the presi.
dency. Fifty.two of them voted for
Burr, one voted for jefferson and three
others failed to vote, thus giving their
states to jefferson. In all this Burr
played the part Of the man Of honor,
Notwithstanding the temptation was
about the greatest that can be offered
to IN American.
1t is not the purpose Of this article
to discuss the Burr conspiracy and his
trial for treason. A jury Of his peers
selected by his enemies found him not
guilty. although they rendered a
Scotch verdict. But at this day no
historian will venture to assert that
there was any conspiracy at all, or
that Burr was guilty Of any act even
remotely resembling treason. That
prosecution was q persecution, and it
must be remembered that it failed on
the governments own evidence and
that Burr was not required to take the
testimony Of single witness Of the
multitude of them he had summoned
in his defense.
The whole conspiracy" was cooked
up by Jefferson, who refused on the
trial, to produce letters which. Burr
claimed. contained evidence that would
acquit him. In 1906 Jefferson was
smarting under the exposure by James
A. Bayar,l of the deal by which .Jefisr-
son became president. and he believed
that Burr hal instigsted it. aid he
determined on revenge. Accordingly
he tortured an enterprise which was
patriotic in its purpose into an act Of
treason, and although he failed Of q
conviction. he cast obloquy on great
name.
Burr's enemies were not content
with attacking his public life, but
malignel his private character. called
him q libertine and debauche.
Of this, Parton says:
Aaron Burr was q man Of gallantry;
not q corrupter Of virgin innocence,
not q despoiler Of honest households,
not . betrayer Of tender confidence.
He was man Of gallantry.
Curtis. in his life of Jefferson, says
Of Burr:
He was probably NO more immoral
than Franklin, Washington or Ham,
ilton, or other men Of his time. He
was neither st. Anthony nor Don
Juan. Judged by the standard Of his
generation, his vices were those Of
gentleman and such as did not deprive
him Of the respect and confidence Of
the community.
Burr's married life, which lasted
twelve years, was Of the lappiest sort.
He was devoted husband and father.
On his daughter. Theodosia Burr, he
lavished his affections. From her
earliest years he had educated her with
q care to which We look in vain for q
parallel among his contemporaries.
She grew up, in consequence. NO orli-
nary woman. Beautiful beyond most
Of her sex, accomplished as were few
women of that day, she displayed to
her family and friends a fervOr Of
affection Of which not every woman is
capable. The character Of Theodosia
Burr has long been regarded As we
would regard that Of q heroine Of
romance. Her love for her father
partOok Of the purity Of q better world;
holy, deep, unchanging; it reminds us
Of the affection which celestial spirit
might be supposed to entertain for q
parent. cast down from heaven, for
sharing in the sin Of the "Son Of
Morning"
His love for her was as great as hers
for him and when he learned Of her
death At the hands Of pirates he fell
down before her picture uttering that
famous cry Of pent tragedy:
by this blow ! am severed from the |
human race!
Burr was . gallant soldier and on
the field At Quebec carried the body Of
the dead Montgomery on his back to
the American lines. He fought brave
ly four years for American independ.
ence and liberty.
Burr was q great lawyer and it is
said never lost . case to which he gave
his personal attention, albeit these are
not arguments.
His public life was without stain.
He never betrayed friend or spoke
i'll of an enemy. With great ambition.
he put aside the presidency of the
United States rather than do wrong
to his party chief. or disappoint the
wishes Of the people-yet he has been
denounced for q century as man
without integrity or sound principle.
Such is the Injustice Of history.-Sam-
nel T. SeatOn.