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Domestic News
May 23, 1807
Herald Of The United States
Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Letters exchanged in February 1807 between Aaron Burr and Governor Robert F. Williams, published in Mississippi papers, regarding Burr's withdrawal from public view, demands for arrest details and assurances against military action, and Williams' response affirming civil authority.
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
WASHINGTON, MAY 11.
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 of charge, if any, for which it is proposed 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, Sir.
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 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 Offmun, 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 usual 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. F. WILLIAMS.
Col. Aaron Burr.
WASHINGTON, MAY 11.
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 of charge, if any, for which it is proposed 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, Sir.
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 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 Offmun, 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 usual 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. F. 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 Proclamation
Legal Assurances
What entities or persons were involved?
A. Burr
Robt. F. Williams
Judge Rodney
Mr. Harding
Colonel Offmun
Where did it happen?
Mississippi Territory
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Mississippi Territory
Event Date
February 1807
Key Persons
A. Burr
Robt. F. Williams
Judge Rodney
Mr. Harding
Colonel Offmun
Outcome
burr seeks assurances on arrest terms, bail, and no military involvement; williams refuses stipulations but promises civil treatment.
Event Details
Correspondence: Burr withdraws from public view due to Judge Rodney's conduct, requests arrest details and assurances; criticizes proclamation as false; Williams responds that Burr is a fugitive, defers to judicial department, assures no military use except in aid of civil authority.