The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-05

Burr, son of the AAR ON BURR
president OF Princeton college, son
and grandson of famous clergymen.
He himself had been prepared for col
lege at eleven and had been a Prince
ton graduate at sixteen. Then, after
studying theology for a year, he calm
ly announced that he did not believe
in religion of any sort. His private
life had already proved him to be as
lacking in morals as in Goodness.
Burr was only nineteen when the
revolution began. He dropped the
study of law and enlisted as private
soldier in the patriot army But he
tired of regular military life and went
as a volunteer with Benedict Arnold
on the Arnold-Montgomery expedition
against Quebec. lie Quarreled with
Arnold and Joined Montgomery. Then
he quarreled with Montgomery and
went back to Arnold. He could get
on" with no commander. Yet so brave
ly did he fight in that unfortunate ex-
petition that on his return he was
made major.
He joined George Washington's
staff. He and the chief were about as
well suited to each other as a rattle
snake and a war horse. Burr openly
sneered at Washington's stiff discip-
line and lofty honor. Washington
found Burr's evil morals disgusting and
was enraged at the youths impu-
denee. Then and there began q mu-
tuaI and lifelong hatred. After six
weeks, Burr left Washington's stan
and Joined Gen. Israel Putnam's.
Though he and "Old Put" did not agree
especially well with each other, Burr's
courage and military talent raised
him. In HIT. to the rank OF lieutenant
colonel. And he fought CALAMITY until
1779. Then. sick OF war and angry be-
cause he was not promoted faster, he
left the army.
HE had long been one OF Washing
tons opponents and had taken lively
part in the Lee and Gates conspiracies
against the chief. This and his quar-
relsome nature may have been what
barred him from promotion. For as
long as Washington was in power
Burr was made to feel the weight OF
his enmity. In later years Burr was
mentioned for minister to France and
for other high government posts. But
President Washington always refused
him such honorS.)
Leaving the army, Burr became a
lawyer and soon afterward moved to
New York. He rose to the height OF
hfC
and speedily became a mighty power
IN New York politics. In 1888 he was
attorney general, and in 1871 went to
the United States senate. In 1860 he
tied" with Thomas Jefferson in the
election for president. In order to
win the presidency he deserted his
political friends and curried favor
with his party's foes. But in spite of
these and other sharp tactics Jeffer-
son was at length elected Burr, by
the custom of those days, became vice
president.
1t was the summit of his career.
Then came the gradual fall. Burr had
political quarrel with Alexander
Hamilton, which ended July z. 1904,
IN pistol duel at Weehawken, n. j..
Burr killed Hamilton. 1t was a fair
fight, and one man was probably no
more to blame, in the quarrel, than
the other. Yet Hamilton had been so
popular that Burr after the duel was
politically crushed
Smarting with anger at the public's
disapproval, Burr went to the south.
west and there plunged with feverish
energy into a mysterious scheme
whose exact nature is still doubtful
The general testimony is that he
planned to conquer Mexico and to
merge it with Texas, Louisiana, etc,
into a great southwestern kingdom,
empire or republic, with New Orleans
for its capital and himself as it's
ruler. The scheme fiourished for a
time, but collapsed when the United
States government denounced it and
arrested Burr for treason Burr was
acquitted, but found it wise to leave
America. He went to England, where
he was maturing new plans when the
British expelled him as AN embarras-
sing person" He was forbidden to
IStULA ~ MS OWL country ana Tor q
time drifted about Europe. almost
penniless.
But in 1912 he sailed for New York
disguised. and opened a law office or
Nassau street. His genius quickly
enabled him to win a new fortune
He added to his wealth by marrying a
second widow. Nine. Jumel. VINO left
him after he had sQuandered much OF
her fortune.
II the course of the next few years
hard luck came again. Old, inrrm,
poor, Stunned by his former friends.
MS family gone, Aaron Burr finally
became an object of charity and died
at Port Richmond. S. l., September II,
| 1886.