Evening star., 1936-09-20
Centenary of the Death
of Aaron Burr
BY FREDERIC J. HASKTN.

a vast number of people Napoleon rep
resents the apotheosis Of greatness; to
many others he represents something
akin to the anti-Cnrist. BY the same
token, 1t will be found that many people
attribute to Aaron Burr a liberal meas
ure OF greatness, while others doubtless
think him nothing less than a traitor.
But there Is greatness about people
who are admittedly evil. Lucifer him.
self Is not denied greatness. The fact
remains that Burr was one of the tre-
mendous figures OF American history,
and the fact that he ended his re-
markable career just 100 years ago sets
milestone in our annals.
That he was implicated in one Of the
most daring plots to carve an empire
for himself and his associates out Of
American territory can scarcely be
doubted in the light Of the evidence
adduced at his trial for treason, even
though Chief Justice John Marshall
practically directed an acquittal on
technicality. But 1t has been urged in
his favor that he was not seeking to
displace Americans in occupation. but
to open up a new world.
M
1t has been said that precocity in chill
dren is a dangerous thing. and If any
child ever was precocious it was Aaron
Burr. One can scarcely credit so strange
story. Burr was the son of the Rev.
Aaron Burr of Fairfield, Conn. His
mother was the daughter Of the great
Jonathan Edwards, one of Americas
greatest colonial clerics. The elder Burr
became president Of what now is Prince.
ton University.
Before Aaron Burr was 8 years old
these remarkable parents died, but left
him heir to considerable estate. He
received some private tutoring and, at
the age of 13 years he entered Princeton
not as a raw freshman. He was able
to enter at that tender age at the
from that school-an age when only the
brightest students are usually entering.
Soon the Revolutionary War broke
and the young Burr enlisted as private.
He volunteered for the expedition
against Quebec and for brilliant serv-
ices there was made a major. He was
engaged in the defense Of New York as
aide-de-camp to Gen. Putnam, and
when but 81 years old was made lieu
tenant colonel and placed in command
Of a regiment.
He went through the Winter at Valley
Forge. At the important battle of Mon
mouth Court House this youngster com.
manded brigade in Lord Strings Di.
vision.
Then followed what might be con-
ceived to adumbrate the then dim fu.
ture. For he conceived a dislike for
Gen. Washington and indeed belittled
his military talents. He joined the Lee
and Gates Washington faction and
then, in 177s. resigned his commission.
The war over, Burr went to Albany,
where, at 26 he was admitted to the bar.
He soon went to New York City and.
with amazing speed, established high.
ly lucrative law practice. Also he en-.
tered politics, as most lawyers of that
day did. He was elected to the New
York Legislature. then became attorney
general of the State, then went to the
United States Senate.
Burr was cleverly active in the 1900
presidential campaign and gained such
prominence that he became a candi-
date. He and Thomas Jefferson received
an equal number of votes and the elec-
ton was thrown into the House Of Rep
resentatives. On the thirty-sixth ballot
jefferson was elected President, Burr
becoming Vice President of the United
States. At the end of his term he was
a candidate for Governor of New York.
but had made too many enemies to suc-
ceed. This contest was so bitter that 1t
led to the famous duel with Alexander
Hamilton, in which the latter fell. This
lost him much popularity. He removed
to New Jersey and soon began his plot
to found his southwest empire, scheme
which was to include conquest of then
Spanish territory west of the Louisiana
Purchase and in old Mexico.
On a trip through the Ohio country
and through Kentucky and Tennessee.
the evidence later showed, he plotted
with leaders. Also, in the East he had
tried to involve the British and Span
ish ministers in the plot, as well as
some Eastern Americans. Burr was a
man of infinite personal charm and, it
is said. even the doughty Andrew jack
son, whom he encountered in Tennessee,
did not suspect his motives.
Joseph Hamilton Daviess of Frank
fort. KY, appears to have been the first
to report the conspiracy to President
Burr in a newspaper he published and
brought Burr into court. He also i'm
plicated Gen. James Wilkinson, then
commanding American troops in the
West. Henry Clay acted as Davies at
torney in the case, but the court was
hostile, so popular had Burr become.
and Daviess lost his case. Harman
Blennerhassett, an Irishman who had
emigrated to America, owned an island
in the Ohio River, and this became the
headquarters of the conspiracy. Blen-
nerhassett assisted in financing supplies.
The West. often politically at odds
with the Eastern Seaboard, found en-
thusiasm for the scheme and men be-
gan enlisting Boats were built on the
Ohio, and the conspiracy was rapidly
taking form. Continued reports came
to Jefferson, but he delayed action. Tho
President had sent emissaries through
the affected country and they. coming
back with substantial confirmation Of
the reports, he sent orders to military
commanders in the territory to appre.
hend all suspects. Meantime Gen. Viii.
kinson, who unquestionably had been in
the plot, turned traitor to Burr.
Communications were slow and Burr
was sure of himself. The expedition
started down the Ohio. but upon reach
ing Natchez found that the plot was
known and then Burr knew his cause
was lost. He escaped across the river
disguised as a boatman, but was ar
rested by Lieut.. Gaines only few miles
from Spanish territory and safety.
RY,rr uoS takeu m Richmond uJara