The Columbus journal., 1910-07-20
Burr.fldmlltOn- n-MOr6
Than a 66ntllru After

a Century After
tinued to maintain social relations
moro or leS close with Burr and even
professed personal friendship for him.
It Was not until Burr's candidacy
for governor Of New York, when some
of the mole widely known Federalists
came to bis support, that Burr receiv.
ed from them the first intimation be
ever had of Hamilton's duplicity to.
wards him. Burr went frankly to
Hamilton for explanation. Burr
knew 50 little that Hamilton soon per.
suaded him that be had done nothing
but what Was fairly proper between
opponents. Burr accepted his ex-
planation, and they parted professedly
as friends. Thus it remained until
proof posiiive was furnished Burr that
Hamilton was then and had been for
years pursuing him with calumny and
detraction. From that moment Burr
regarded him with utter contempt.
Burr taxed Hamilton with utterine
certain opinions derogatory to bis hon
or and demanded . prompt and un'
qualified acknowledgment or denial.
Hamilton evaded. Burr replied to
Hamilton's letter. saying. II regret ia
find in it nothing of that sincerity and
delicacy which you profess to value,
Political opposition can never absolve
gentlemen from the necessity of . rig
id adherence to the laws of honor and
the rules Of decorum. neither claim
such privilege nor indulge it in others. u
A challenge aud the duel followed
Hamilton was killed and Burr retired
to private life.
Burr's defeat and the duel ended bis
political career. Speaking ofthe New
York gubernatorial campaign Of 1904,
Henry Adams, the historian, says:
"Never in the history of the United
States did 90 powerful = combination
of. rival politicians unite to break
down . single man q that which ar.
rayed itself against Burr"
Jedsrson's animosity towards Burr
began after Jetierson's election to the
presidency. and was born ofJedsrson's &
jealousy Of Burr's popularity and the
fear that Burr might supplant him as
the leader of the party and make him
q zone termer."
In the matter of the election of JET:
ferson to the presidency history has
done Aaron Burr another great iojus-
tice. In that matter Burr is disclosed
as . patriot and man Of the highest
sense Of honor. He has been deprived
Of the credit, aud Alexander Hamilton
has been exalted a. an unseliish states
man who, with the gift Of the presid-
ency in his hands. preferred the good
and great Jefferson to the wicked and
proaigate Burr. The simple truth is
that Burr, had he desired it and con.
sented to pay the price demanded,
could have been president Of the Uni.
ted States instead Of Thomas Jefferson.
Burr refused. Jefferson agreed to the
terms which Hamilton and q few Fed.
eralists made and he was elected.
In the election of 1900 Jefferson and
Burr each received seventy.three elee-
toral votes aud the election went to the
house Of representatives. The Feder-
alists had . small majority in the house
and it was compelled to choose between
Jefferson and Burr. Although the
Federalists had . majority in the house
the vote Was by states, and the Feder-
slists did not control q majority Of the
states. On the first ballot Jefferson
received the votes Of eight states. Burr
six and two voted in blank. Notwith-
standing the opposition Of Hamilton,
the Federalists preferred Burr to JEFF:
erson. A scheme was arranged by
which Burr could certainly have been
president. It was to deceive one man
and buy two others. But this could
not be done without Burris approval,
and that they failed to gain. Burr
would not enter into . contest for the
presidency against Jefferson. In q
letter to Gen. Samuel Smith under
date of Dec. 16, 1900. Burr wrote:
Its highly improbable that ] shall
have an equal number Of votes with
Mr.. jefferson; but ifsuch should be the
result, every man vho knows me ought
to know that would utterly disclaim