An American Patrician, or The Story of Aaron Burr: IllustratedLewis, Alfred Henry
History
An American Patrician, or The Story of Aaron Burr: Illustrated
Lewis, Alfred Henry
Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836
What Aaron says is true; in the finish he gives proof of it to the old
governor. At this the latter’s Irish blood begins to gather heat.
“It is as you tell me!” he cries at last; “I can see it now! That West
Indian runagate Hamilton was the bug under the Yates chip!”
“And you must not forget, sir, that for every scheme of politics
‘Schuyler’ and ‘Hamilton’ are interchangeable.”
“You are right! When one pulls the other pushes. They are my enemies,
and I shall not be less than theirs.”
The governor asks Aaron what candidate they shall pit against the
rusty Schuyler. Aaron has thus far said nothing of himself in any toga
connection, fearing that the old governor may regard his thirty-six
years as lacking proper gravity. Being urged to suggest a name, he waxes
discreet. He believes, he says, that the Livingstons can be prevailed
upon to come out against the rusty Schuyler, if properly approached.
Such approach might be more gracefully made if no candidate is pitched
upon at this time.
“From your place, sir, as governor,” observes the skillful Aaron, “you
could not of course condescend to go in person to the Livingstons. My
position, however, is not so high nor my years so many as are yours; I
need not scruple to take up the matter with them. As to a candidate, I
can go to them more easily if we leave the question open. I could tell
the Livingstons that you would like a suggestion from them on that
point. It would flatter their pride.”
The old governor is pleased to regard with favor the reasoning of Aaron.
He remarks, too, that with him the candidate is not important. The main
thought is to defeat the rusty Schuyler, who, with son-in-law Hamilton,
so aforetime played the hypocrite, and pulled treacherous wires against
him, in the hope of compassing his defeat. He declares himself quite
satisfied to let the Livingstons select what fortunate one is to be the
senate successor of the rusty Schuyler. He urges Aaron to wait on the
Livingstons without delay, and discover their feeling.
Aaron confers with the Livingstons, and shows them many things. Mostly
he shows them that, should he himself be chosen senator, it will
necessitate his resignation as attorney general. Also, he makes it
appear that, if the old governor be properly approached, he will name
Morgan Lewis to fill the vacancy. The Livingston eye glistens; the
mother of Morgan Lewis is a Livingston, and the office of attorney
general should match the gentleman’s fortunes nicely. Besides, there
are several ways wherein an attorney general might be of much Livingston
use. No, the Livingstons do not say these things. They say instead that
none is more nobly equipped for the rôle of senator than Aaron. Finally,
it is the Livingstons who go back to the old governor. Nor do they find
it difficult to convince him that Aaron is the one surest of defeating
the rusty Schuyler.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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