The Enquirer

COMMUNICATION.

Colonel Aaron Burr.

Our attention has been of late much excited by the publications which have appeared in the paper called the Western World: Plots and conspiracies of various kinds, have been announced in terms of such seriousness connected with details, which wear the appearance of probability, Among others who have been denounced, we have lately noticed the name of

Aaron
Burr, Esquire. Late
VICE-PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.

It has been long the custom of many American writers, and publishers, to treat the name, character and conduct of Col. Burr with suspicion, accusation and contempt. He has been accused and denounced, as a foe to his country, to its government, and to the civil liberties of mankind; and so long, and so frequently have such things been published, that no reader can be surprised to find some new accusation or charge against this distinguished character.

Under such circumstances, the name of Col. Burr has been announced as a conspirator, for the purpose of effecting a revolution, in the Western settlements & states of the union; The object of which would be to establish a separate government or empire beyond the Alleghany Mountains—and so far have these accusations been carried, that many collateral facts, of seeming importance, have been referred to and relied upon. One of these facts related to the employment of many young men of talents and distinction, who have engaged in some secret project, which they either will not, or can not, explain. Another relates to the building, or contracting for, a number of boats, such as seemed useful only in a military project. A third relates to the great resources in money which colonel Burr has lately obtained, either by drafts upon merchants in Kentucky, or by his own drafts upon merchants of New-York and Philadelphia

To all those who were weak enough to imagine that Colonel Burr could be so great a fool, as to attempt such a revolution, as that which has been alluded to, these and some other matters of smaller import appeared to be strong proofs of a conspiracy.

And as it had long been the fashion to accuse, and to criminate him according to the fears, hatred or malignity of each writer; So it happened, from these causes, that Col. Burr has been treated with as little respect, as if he had been a public outlaw.

In one of the western papers, it is said that Col. Burr has lately been at the house of col. Charles Lynch, in Kentucky, where he remained several days; That Lynch, some time ago had purchased an interest in the claim of Baron Bastrop to thirty miles square of lands in Louisiana, which the Spanish government had granted to him-; that Bastrop was bound to settle a considerable number of families thereon, as one of the conditions of the grant.

Here then the whole mystery is unfolded. Bastrop, being unable to fulfill his contract, has sold or confederated with Lynch; Lynch has either sold to or confederated with Burr; Burr has sold or confederated with other persons, who have sufficient cash capitals to make the necessary settlements.

Having made these arrangements, it was natural for colonel Burr to engage young men of talents and enterprize, not only to become settlers but also to promote the general purposes of the plan. Young men of this description have been employed, and because the wise-ones could not discern wherefore, they have thought fit to say, that the purposes were treasonable, and that colonel Burr was not only the author but the great machine, upon which all the minor parts of this supposed treachery and conspiracy, would or did depend.

After having mentioned this part of the project, the next thing necessary was, to provide suitable boats, not merely such as would do to go down the Ohio and Mississippi; but such as would be useful in other purposes, and at the same time to afford the means of annoyance, if interrupted by Indians, or plunderers.--Boats of this description have also been provided.

Men and boats being thus engaged, there then would want nothing but money, or those articles of necessity which money would produce. According to the accounts which are published, it seems that Col. Burr has provided funds equal to 200,000 dolls.

Now if all these things be true, what are the results? Plainly and simply these:

Col. Aaron Burr, a man of great talents and enterprize, who has had many causes to be dissatisfied with the eastern parts of the United States, has determined to withdraw and to settle in Louisiana. He has purchased or otherwise obtained the controul over large tracts of valuable unsettled lands, and has employed persons to superintend the settlement of farmers in those lands. These farmers have been or will be obtained from the Eastern States, and of course must pass down the Ohio by water, to go to the lands in question. He has provided proper boats to remove these settlers and their families, and has also provided sufficient resources in money and other articles to promote and execute the intended settlements.

All these things being connected with the name of Burr, have induced some persons to publish, and many more to believe that the whole was neither more nor less than an organized conspiracy for the purpose of separating the Western from the Eastern States; that Col. Burr was the organ and author of that great project: and that he had been urged to this act of superlative weakness or rather madness by motives of ambition or revenge.

These observations are not altogether predicated upon conjecture. There are some facts known to the writer, which induce him seriously to submit these reflections to public notice. As a very little time will explain the whole mystery, if there be a mystery, or if there be any thing more intended than has been herein suggested, so therefore it will not be proper or advisable, at this time, to add other conjectures.

It will afford to the writer much satisfaction, to find not only, that so great a calamity as the dismemberment of the United States is not contemplated by any one, but very particularly indeed, will it gratify him, to find that one of such rare talents as those of Col. Aaron Burr has not sullied the lustre which is due to his name & to such exalted endowments, by designs which could not fail, to embitter the latter days of his life, and to consign his name and his fame to execration and infamy.

A Friend of the Union and of Truth.