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Facts countering some allegations in the Aaron Burr article.
character, felt the need to prove themselves as
character, felt the need to prove themselves as
men of honor.<ref> Freeman (1996)</ref> But Burr had a deeper problem.
men of honor.<ref> Freeman (1996)</ref> But Burr had a deeper problem.
UNDER VALUES:
1."Burr thought the duel would make amends for the humiliation..." He thought? How does one know what he thought, especially if he was as private and inscrutable as the article describes him? My research shows no such "thought" recorded by Burr.
2. "Secretive corresondence." Many of the Founding Fathers constantly wrote coded letters, including Jefferson and Hamilton. Burr did the same. Mail was constantly being opened and read by others. Code was used as a precaution.
Burr's private letters differs markedly from that of other leaders of the American Revolution and reflect Burr's different worldview. Unlike fellow Revolutionary statesmen who endorsed [[republicanism]] and celebrated virtue and enlightened values as their claim to natural aristocracy, Burr esteemed traditional aristocratic values and believed it only proper to use his public office to maintain his position in society and to make money. His correspondence is secretive, and deals primarily with schemes to promote his friends and his business interests. He never wrote about constitutionalism or government policy like his contemporaries. After the Revolution, rival politicians such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson united against Burr because his behavior threatened republican ideals and made him a traitor to the new American elite.<ref> Gordon S. Wood, "The Real Treason of Aaron Burr". ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 1999 143(2): 280-295. 0003-049X </ref>
Burr's private letters differs markedly from that of other leaders of the American Revolution and reflect Burr's different worldview. Unlike fellow Revolutionary statesmen who endorsed [[republicanism]] and celebrated virtue and enlightened values as their claim to natural aristocracy, Burr esteemed traditional aristocratic values and believed it only proper to use his public office to maintain his position in society and to make money. His correspondence is secretive, and deals primarily with schemes to promote his friends and his business interests. He never wrote about constitutionalism or government policy like his contemporaries. After the Revolution, rival politicians such as Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson united against Burr because his behavior threatened republican ideals and made him a traitor to the new American elite.<ref> Gordon S. Wood, "The Real Treason of Aaron Burr". ''Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society'' 1999 143(2): 280-295. 0003-049X </ref>
NOTE: There are no records of Burr "...threatening republican ideals.." To the contrary, according to most contemporary accounts Burr's behavior in his several elected and appointed offices were honorable. Even his political rivals begrudged him that. As to "republican ideals," as a U.S. Senator Burr moved for an amendment for complete abolition of slavery. He condemned an amendment in the N.Y. legislature that would bar recent immigrants from joining craft unions-a dangerous move for him in New York at the time. His record as NY Attorney General was progressive and untainted by corruption. And he committed allegiance to the Jeffersonian Republicans when he ran for Vice-President. Read the reports of his behavior as President Pro-Tem of the U.S. Senate. According to some of Burr's writing he enjoyed politics, but his family, friends and career (he ws always in debt) came first. The period mentioned above was long before the Conspiracy chapter of his life. Politics alone, if you read contemporary accounts by Jefferson and Hamilton, were the bases of their animosity. Both Jefferson and Hamilton published attacks on Burr under pseudonyms, both in letters and newspapers. He never attacked them in this manner. He was writing a history of the Revolution, but it was lost at sea with his daughter.
Undoubtly there are many unanswered questions about the conspiracy, but recently uncovered records have caused many historians to take a newer, unprejudiced investigation of all the claims. No doubt the filibustering might have taken place eventually, but it didn't. Time was against Burr. When, in 1836, the U.S. took Texas from Mexico, Burr stated, "thirty years ago I was called a traitor - today I would be a hero." Dav123 21 May 2010]
==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==