TheyhavebeenlongendeavoringtobatterdowntheGovernor，whohasalwaysbeenafirmrepublican。TherewerecharacterssuperiortohimwhomIwishedtoappoint，buttheyrefusedtheoffice：Iknownobettermanwhowouldacceptofit，anditwouldnotberighttoturnhimoutforonenotbetter。Butitisthe2d。cause，abovementioned，whichisdeep-seated&permanent。TheFrenchmembersoftheLegislature，beingthemajorityinbothHouses，latelypassedanactdeclaringthatthecivil，orFrenchlaws，shouldbethelawsoftheirland，andenumeratedabout50foliovolumes，inLatin，asthedepositoriesoftheselaws。TheGovernornegativedtheact。Oneofthehousesthereuponpassedavoteforself-dissolutionoftheLegislatureasauselessbody，whichfailedintheotherHousebyasinglevoteonly。Theyseparated，however，&havedisseminatedallthediscontenttheycould。IproposetothemembersofCongressinconversation，theenlisting30，000volunteers，Americansbybirth，tobecarriedatthepublicexpense，&settledimmediatelyonabountyof160acresoflandeach，onthewestsideoftheMississippi，ontheconditionofgivingtwoyearsofmilitaryservice，ifthatcountryshouldbeattackedwithin7years。Thedefenceofthecountrywouldthusbeplacedonthespot，andtheadditionalnumberwouldentitletheterritorytobecomeaState，wouldmakethemajorityAmerican，&makeitanAmericaninsteadofaFrenchState。
ThiswouldnotsweetenthepilltotheFrench；butinmakingthatacquisitionwehadsomeviewtoourowngoodaswellastheirs，andI
believethegreatestgoodofbothwillbepromotedbywhateverwillamalgamateustogether。
Ihavetiredyou，myfriend，withalongletter。Butyourtediumwillendinafewlinesmore。Minehasyettwoyearstoendure。IamtiredofanofficewhereIcandonomoregoodthanmanyothers，whowouldbegladtobeemployedinit。Tomyself，personally，itbringsnothingbutunceasingdrudgery&dailylossoffriends。Everyofficebecomingvacant，everyappointmentmade，medonneuningrat，etcentennemis。Myonlyconsolationisinthebeliefthatmyfellowcitizensatlargegivemecreditforgoodintentions。Iwillcertainlyendeavortomeritthecontinuanceofthatgood-willwhichfollowswell-intendedactions，andtheirapprobationwillbethedearestrewardIcancarryintoretirement。
Godblessyou，myexcellentfriend，andgiveyouyetmanyhealthyandhappyyears。
LAWSOFVIRGINIA
_ToWilliamWallerHening_
_Washington，January14，1807_
SIR，——YourletterofDec。26th，wasreceivedinduetime。
TheonlyobjectIhadinmakingmycollectionofthelawsofVirginia，wastosaveallthoseforthePublicwhichwerenotthenalreadylost，inthehopethatatsomefuturedaytheymightberepublished。Whetherthisbebypublicorprivateenterprise，myendwillbeequallyanswered。Theworkdividesitselfintotwoverydistinctparts；towit，theprintedandtheunprintedlaws。Theformerbeginin1682，Purvis’collection。Mycollectionoftheseisinstrongvolumes，wellbound，andthereforemaysafelybetransportedanywhere。Anyofthesevolumeswhichyoudonotpossess，areatyourserviceforthepurposeofrepublication，buttheunprintedlawsaredispersedthroughmanyMS。volumes，severalofthemsodecayedthattheleafcanneverbeopenedbutoncewithoutfallingintopowder。Thesecanneverbearremovalfurtherthanfromtheirshelftoatable。Theyare，aswellasIrecollect，from1622
downwards。Iformerlymadesuchadigestoftheirorder，andthevolumeswheretheyaretobefound，that，undermyownsuperintendence，theycouldbecopiedwithoncehandling。Moretheywouldnotbear。HencetheimpracticabilityoftheirbeingcopiedbutatMonticello。Butindependentofthem，theprintedlaws，beginningin1682，withallourformerprintedcollections，willbeamostvaluablepublication，&sufficientlydistinct。Ishallhavenodoubtoftheexactnessofyourpartofthework，butIhopeyouwilltakemeasuresforhavingthetypography&paperworthyofthework。IamleadtothiscautionbythescandalousvolumeofourlawsprintedbyPleasantsin1803，&thosebyDavis，in1796werelittlebetter；bothunworthythehistoryofTomThumb。Youcanhavethembetter&
cheaperprintedanywherenorthofRichmond。Acceptmysalutations&
assurancesofrespect。
LESSONSOFTHEBURRCONSPIRACY
_ToGovernorWilliamC。C。Claiborne_
_Washington，February3，1807_
DEARSIR，——Iprayyoutoreadtheenclosedletter，tosealanddeliverit。Itexplainsitselfsofully，thatIneedsaynothing。IamsincerelyconcernedforMr。Reibelt，whoisamanofexcellentunderstandingandextensivescience。Ifyouhadanyacademicalberth，hewouldbemuchbetterfittedforthatthanforthebustlingbusinessoflife。IenclosetoGeneralWilkinsonmymessageofJanuary22d。Ipresume，however，youwillhaveseenitinthepapers。ItgivesthehistoryofBurr’sconspiracy，allbutthelastchapter，whichwill，Ihope，bethatofhiscapturebeforethistime，atNatchez。Yoursituationshavebeendifficult，andwejudgeofthemeritofouragentstherebythemagnitudeofthedangerasitappearedtothem，notasitwasknowntous。Ongreatoccasionseverygoodofficermustbereadytoriskhimselfingoingbeyondthestrictlineoflaw，whenthepublicpreservationrequiresit；hismotiveswillbeajustificationasfarasthereisanydiscretioninhisultra-legalproceedings，andnoindulgenceofprivatefeelings。
Onthewhole，thissquall，byshowingwithwhateaseourgovernmentsuppressesmovementswhichinothercountriesrequiresarmies，hasgreatlyincreaseditsstrengthbyincreasingthepublicconfidenceinit。Ithasbeenawholesomelessontootoourcitizens，ofthenecessaryobediencetotheirgovernment。TheFeds，andthelittlebandofQuids，inopposition，willtrytomakesomethingoftheinfringementoflibertybythemilitaryarrestanddeportationofcitizens，butifitdoesnotgobeyondsuchoffendersasSwartwout，Bollman，Burr，Blennerhasset，Tyler，&c。，theywillbesupportedbythepublicapprobation。Acceptmyfriendlysalutations，andassurancesofesteemandrespect。
THEBURRTRIAL
_ToWilliamBranchGiles_
_Monticello，April20，1807_
DEARSIR，——Yourfavorofthe6th，onthesubjectofBurr’soffences，wasreceivedonly4daysago。Thatthereshouldbeanxiety&doubtinthepublicmind，inthepresentdefectivestateoftheproof，isnotwonderful；andthishasbeensedulouslyencouragedbythetricksofthejudgestoforcetrialsbeforeitispossibletocollecttheevidence，dispersedthroughalineof2000milesfromMainetoOrleans。Thefederalists，too，givealltheiraid，makingBurr’scausetheirown，mortifiedonlythathedidnotseparatetheUnionoroverturnthegovernment，&proving，thathadhehadalittledawnofsuccess，theywouldhavejoinedhimtointroducehisobject，theirfavoritemonarchy，astheywouldanyotherenemy，foreignordomestic，whocouldridthemofthishatefulrepublicforanyothergovernmentinexchange。
Thefirstgroundofcomplaintwasthesupineinattentionoftheadministrationtoatreasonstalkingthroughthelandinopenday。
Thepresentone，thattheyhavecrusheditbeforeitwasripeforexecution，sothatnoovertactscanbeproduced。Thislastmaybetrue；tho’Ibelieveitisnot。Ourinformationhavingbeenchieflybywayofletter，wedonotknowofacertaintyyetwhatwillbeproved。Wehavesetonfootaninquirythroughthewholeofthecountrywhichhasbeenthesceneofthesetransactions，tobeabletoprovetothecourts，iftheywillgivetime，ortothepublicbywayofcommunicationtoCongress，whattherealfactshavebeen。Forobtainingthis，weareobligedtoappealtothepatriotismofparticularpersonsindifferentplaces，ofwhomwehaverequestedtomaketheinquiryintheirneighborhood，andonsuchinformationasshallbevoluntarilyoffered。Aidedbynoprocessorfacilitiesfromthe_federal_courts，butfrownedonbytheirnewbornzealforthelibertyofthosewhomwewouldnotpermittooverthrowthelibertiesoftheircountry，wecanexpectnorevealmentsfromtheaccomplicesofthechiefoffender。Oftreasonableintentions，thejudgeshavebeenobligedtoconfessthereisprobableappearance。Whatloopholetheywillfindinit，whenitcomestotrial，wecannotforesee。
Eaton，Stoddart，Wilkinson，andtwootherswhomImustnotname，willsatisfytheworld，ifnotthejudges，onthathead。AndIdosupposethefollowingovertactswillbeproved。1。Theenlistmentofmeninaregularway。2。TheregularmountingofguardroundBlennerhassett’sislandwhentheyexpectedGovernorTiffin’smentobeonthem，_modoguerrinoarraiali_。3。TherendezvousofBurrwithhismenatthemouthoftheCumberland。4。HislettertotheactingGovernorofMississippi，holdinguptheprospectofcivilwar。5。
HiscapitulationregularlysignedwiththeaidsoftheGovernor，asbetweentwoindependent&hostilecommanders。
Butamoment’scalculationwillshewthatthisevidencecannotbecollectedunder4months，probably5。fromthemomentofdecidingwhen&wherethetrialshallbe。IdesiredMr。RodneyexpresslytoinformtheChiefJusticeofthis，inofficially。ButMr。Marshallsays，”morethan5weekshaveelapsedsincetheopinionoftheSupremecourthasdeclaredthenecessityofprovingtheovertacts，iftheyexist。Whyaretheynotproved?”Inwhattermsofdecencycanwespeakofthis?AsifanexpresscouldgotoNatchez，orthemouthofCumberland，&returnin5weeks，todowhichhasnevertakenlessthantwelve。Again，”If，inNov。orDec。last，abodyoftroopshadbeenassembledontheOhio，itisimpossibletosupposetheaffidavitsestablishingthefactcouldnothavebeenobtainedbythelastofMarch。”ButIaskthejudgewheretheyshouldhavebeenlodged?AtFrankfort?atCincinnati?atNashville?St。Louis?
Natchez?NewOrleans?Theseweretheprobableplacesofapprehension&examination。Itwasnotknownat_Washington_tillthe26thofMarchthatBurrwouldescapefromtheWesterntribunals，beretaken&
broughttoanEasternone；andin5daysafter，neither5。monthsnor5。weeks，asthejudgecalculated，hesays，itis”impossibletosupposetheaffidavitscouldnothavebeenobtained。”Where?AtRichmondhecertainlymeant，ormeantonlytothrowdustintheeyesofhisaudience。ButalltheprinciplesoflawaretobepervertedwhichwouldbearonthefavoriteoffenderswhoendeavortooverrunthisodiousRepublic。”Iunderstand，”saisthejudge，”_probable_
causeofguilttobeacasemadeoutby_proof_furnishinggoodreasontobelieve，”&c。Speakingasalawyer，hemustmeanlegalproof，i。e。，proofonoath，atleast。Butthisisconfounding_probability_and_proof_。Wehadalwaysbeforeunderstoodthatwheretherewasreasonablegroundtobelieveguilt，theoffendermustbeputonhistrial。Thatguiltyintentionswereprobable，thejudgebelieved。Andastotheovertacts，werenotthebundleoflettersofinformationinMr。Rodney’shands，thelettersandfactspublishedinthelocalnewspapers，Burr’sflight，&theuniversalbelieforrumorofhisguilt，probablegroundforpresumingthefactsofenlistment，militaryguard，rendezvous，threatsofcivilwar，orcapitulation，soastoputhimontrial?IsthereacandidmanintheUSwhodoesnotbelievesomeone，ifnotall，oftheseovertactstohavetakenplace?
Ifthereeverhadbeenaninstanceinthisortheprecedingadministrations，offederaljudgessoapplyingprinciplesoflawastocondemnafederaloracquitarepublicanoffender，Ishouldhavejudgedtheminthepresentcasewithmorecharity。Allthis，however，willworkwell。Thenationwilljudgeboththeoffender&
judgesforthemselves。IfamemberoftheExecutiveorLegislaturedoeswrong，thedayisneverfardistantwhenthepeoplewillremovehim。Theywillseethen&amendtheerrorinourConstitution，whichmakesanybranchindependentofthenation。Theywillseethatoneofthegreatco-ordinatebranchesofthegovernment，settingitselfinoppositiontotheothertwo，andtothecommonsenseofthenation，proclaimsimpunitytothatclassofoffenderswhichendeavorstooverturntheConstitution，andarethemselvesprotectedinitbytheConstitutionitself；forimpeachmentisafarcewhichwillnotbetriedagain。IftheirprotectionofBurrproducesthisamendment，itwilldomoregoodthanhiscondemnationwouldhavedone。AgainstBurr，personally，Ineverhadonehostilesentiment。Ineverindeedthoughthimanhonest，frank-dealingman，butconsideredhimasacrookedgun，orotherpervertedmachine，whoseaimorstrokeyoucouldneverbesureof。Still，whilehepossessedtheconfidenceofthenation，Ithoughtitmydutytorespectinhimtheirconfidence，&totreathimasifhedeservedit；andifthispunishmentcanbecommutednowforanyusefulamendmentoftheConstitution，Ishallrejoiceinit。Mysheetbeingfull，Iperceiveitishightimetoofferyoumyfriendlysalutations，andassureyouofmyconstantandaffectionateesteemandrespect。
HISTORY，HUME，ANDTHEPRESS
_ToJohnNorvell_
_Washington，June14，1807_
SIR，——YourletterofMay9hasbeendulyreceived。Thesubjectitproposeswouldrequiretime&spaceforevenmoderatedevelopment。Myoccupationslimitmetoaveryshortnoticeofthem。
Ithinktheredoesnotexistagoodelementaryworkontheorganizationofsocietyintocivilgovernment：Imeanaworkwhichpresentsinonefull&comprehensiveviewthesystemofprinciplesonwhichsuchanorganizationshouldbefounded，accordingtotherightsofnature。Forwantofasingleworkofthatcharacter，IshouldrecommendLockeonGovernment，Sidney，Priestley’sEssayonthefirstPrinciplesofGovernment，Chipman’sPrinciplesofGovernment，&theFederalist。Adding，perhaps，Beccariaoncrimes&punishments，becauseofthedemonstrativemannerinwhichhehastreatedthatbranchofthesubject。Ifyourviewsofpoliticalinquirygofurther，tothesubjectsofmoney&commerce，Smith’sWealthofNationsisthebestbooktoberead，unlessSay’sPoliticalEconomycanbehad，whichtreatsthesamesubjectonthesameprinciples，butinashortercompass&morelucidmanner。ButIbelievethisworkhasnotbeentranslatedintoourlanguage。
History，ingeneral，onlyinformsuswhatbadgovernmentis。
ButaswehaveemployedsomeofthebestmaterialsoftheBritishconstitutionintheconstructionofourowngovernment，aknolegeofBritishhistorybecomesusefultotheAmericanpolitician。Thereis，however，nogeneralhistoryofthatcountrywhichcanberecommended。
TheelegantoneofHumeseemsintendedtodisguise&discreditthegoodprinciplesofthegovernment，andissoplausible&pleasinginit’sstyle&manner，astoinstilit’serrors&heresiesinsensiblyintothemindsofunwaryreaders。Baxterhasperformedagoodoperationonit。HehastakenthetextofHumeashisgroundwork，abridgingitbytheomissionofsomedetailsoflittleinterest，andwhereverhehasfoundhimendeavoringtomislead，byeitherthesuppressionofatruthorbygivingitafalsecoloring，hehaschangedthetexttowhatitshouldbe，sothatwemayproperlycallitHume’shistoryrepublicanised。HehasmoreovercontinuedthehistorybutindifferentlyfromwhereHumeleftit，totheyear1800。TheworkisnotpopularinEngland，becauseitisrepublican；
andbutafewcopieshaveeverreachedAmerica。Itisasingle4to。
volume。AddingtothisLudlow’sMemoirs，Mrs。M’Cauley’s&Belknap’shistories，asufficientviewwillbepresentedofthefreeprinciplesoftheEnglishconstitution。