The Enquirer

While Aaron Burr continues before the tribunal of crimes, some difficulties will occur in the manner of discharging our Editorial duties. It is difficult for us to distinguish all those cases in which we ought to speak, from all those, where we should be silent. Perhaps the Editor of the National Intelligencer has nearly struck upon the proper line of discrimination.

Like him, we shall abstain from all impassioned representations.

And like him, we shall unhesitatingly give all new facts as they offer themselves, without any regard to the party whom they may favor.

With him, we must agree, that even temperate discussions may be attended with its benefits; but we shall not undertake to say on which side the balance of benefits turns.

Like him, we shall stand upon the defensive, until the federal prints, by an unjust and impolitic attack upon the administration, shall compel its friends to come forward in its defence. Let the federal prints therefore beware how they injure the man, whom they have covertly undertaken to defend? Let them remember the celebrated maxim of Junius, that a man may in one case be the bitterest enemy of his friends!

Under the influence of this principle, we shall correct some of the unfounded statements which were published in the last Atlantic World.

It is not a fact, that the administration had already engaged the most able counsel at Richmond to appear against him.

It is not a fact that any offers have been made by the Executive to Mr. Wickham and Mr. Wirt; and of course they could not have accepted the offers made to them by the Executive for this purpose.

It is not a fact, that Mr. Edmund Randolph has been solicited for his services; and of course, he could not have rejected the proposal.

If to have pledged his abilities in such a case Mr. Wickham would have at once abandoned that line of steady integrity, which has placed him on the list of the first characters of the U. S. it is not a fact, that Mr. W. has at once abandoned his steady integrity or his distinguished reputation. On the other hand, if the converse of the proposition be true, Mr. W. and Mr. R. have but added a new ray to the lustre of their characters; as whatever of eloquence and professional talents they possessed, were strenuously exerted in the defence of their client.

The fact is, that both Mr. Randolph and Mr. Wickham were retained by Col. Burr the day after his arrival in this city, and that Mr. Wirt would have been spoken to for the same purpose, had he not been absent from the city.

It is not a fact, that in passing through the counties of Prince Edward, Cumberland, &c. Colonel Burr was treated with greater indignity, than could have been shewn to the greatest criminal. On the contrary, we have understood from the most unquestionable authority, that Col. Burr was treated with every civility which was consistent with his situation. There was no indignity in the conduct of his guard; no insult; no unnecessary harshness calculated to wound the feelings of their prisoner. Major Perkins did not permit him to hold any conversation with his guard or himself on the subject of his arrest; nor did Col. Burr make such an effort, more than once. But this expedient was dictated by the duty of keeping his prisoner safe. Major Perkins was charged to deliver him into the possession of the officers of the general government; and it was therefore his duty to forbear any communication between Col. Burr and his guard, or between him and the people whom he happened to meet with on their route, that might possibly lead to a rescue or an escape?