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Domestic News May 11, 1807

The National Intelligencer And Washington Advertiser

Washington, District Of Columbia

What is this article about?

In February 1807, Aaron Burr exchanged letters with Mississippi Territory Governor Robert Williams, protesting Judge Rodney's actions, demanding details on his potential arrest, bail, and assurances against military detention or removal from the territory. Williams affirmed civil authority would be upheld.

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The following letters appear in the late Mississippi papers as having passed betwixt colonel Burr and governor Williams:

(No date.)

SIR,

The vindictive temper and unprincipled conduct of judge Rodney, have induced me to withdraw for the present from public view, I nevertheless continue in the disposition which has been uniformly manifested, of submitting to civil authority, so long as I can be assured, that it will be exercised towards me within the limits prescribed for other citizens.

It is proper, however, before again surrendering, that I be informed of the cause or charge, if any, for which it is purposed to arrest me: whether bail will be received—the tenor of recognizance, and the sum in which security will be required: I ask further, your assurance, that no attempt to send me out of the territory will be countenanced or permitted, and that my person shall not be subjected to any military arrest.

I have the honor to be, &c.
A. BURR.
His Excellency Governor Williams.

12th February, 1807.

SIR,

I have seen your proclamation. It was unworthy of you to lend your sanction to a falsehood.—The recognizance on which I was bound, was on condition that I should appear in case an indictment should be found against me, and not otherwise. This special form was agreed on by judge Rodney, after nearly half an hour's discussion between him, Mr. Harding and myself, drawn up at his request by Mr. Harding, and signed by the judge in our presence; and in that of colonel Ogden, and will be found in the hand writing of Mr. Harding, so signed, unless, for fraudulent purposes, the judge shall have destroyed it.—If he shall deny these facts, he must be as lost to shame as to principle. If he shall admit them, or they shall be otherwise established to your satisfaction, it is hoped that you will feel it to be your duty by a public manifesto, to cancel your proclamation, and to acknowledge the error on which it has been founded.

A. BURR.
His Excellency Governor Williams.

Washington Feb. 13th, 1807.

Sir,

Your two notes, the one without date, the other under that of yesterday, I have this moment received. Without animadverting on the unusual style which you have permitted to yourself, I can only say, that from the judicial proceedings in this territory you cannot be considered in any other light than as a fugitive from the laws of your country; with these, you are too well acquainted not to know, that it belongs to a department different from mine to determine as to the nature of your offence, and to decide as to the manner in which you are to be treated. Hence you must see, it would be as improper as it would be undignified in me to enter into any stipulations as to your surrender: In justice to myself, however, I will observe, that so long as I have the honor to preside in this territory, I shall never use the military except in aid of the civil authority, and that, if you submit yourself to this, you may be assured, that it shall "be exercised towards you within the limits prescribed for other citizens," similarly situated.

I have the honor to be, &c.
ROBT. WILLIAMS.
COL. Aaron BURR.

What sub-type of article is it?

Legal Or Court Politics

What keywords are associated?

Aaron Burr Governor Williams Judge Rodney Mississippi Territory Arrest Conditions Recognizance Fugitive

What entities or persons were involved?

A. Burr Governor Williams Judge Rodney Mr. Harding Colonel Ogden

Where did it happen?

Mississippi Territory

Domestic News Details

Primary Location

Mississippi Territory

Event Date

February 12 13, 1807

Key Persons

A. Burr Governor Williams Judge Rodney Mr. Harding Colonel Ogden

Outcome

no resolution; assurances given that civil authority will be exercised within limits for citizens, military used only in aid of civil authority.

Event Details

Aaron Burr wrote to Governor Williams demanding information on charges, bail conditions, and assurances against military arrest or removal from the territory due to Judge Rodney's conduct. Burr contested the governor's proclamation regarding a recognizance, claiming it was conditional on indictment. Governor Williams responded, viewing Burr as a fugitive, refusing stipulations but assuring civil treatment.

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