He would suppose that the populous rich city of New Orleans was in danger of invasion. He would suppose that a hero distinguished for military science and valor and as patriotic as he was ambitious of honorable fame--but whose good name was blighted and blasted by the malice of his countrymen--should have seen the dangers hanging over his country: New Orleans threatened with invasion and conquest by a Spanish force, the citizens there in danger of murder and captivity, their wives and daughters ready to be a prey to Spanish lust, and all else in that favored country exposed to desolation. He would suppose that the hero knew that a band of faithful patriots could be collected immediately around his standard. He would suppose that with this band of patriots the hero should at this fortunate and critical moment have rescued the country, the army, the people, by a reasonable relief to the decrepit and half baffled forces of the United States. He would suppose that in the same magnanimous spirit the hero should after this have gone on his enterprise to establish the independence of the Mexicans and give liberty to millions now groaning under bondage. Suppose he had done all this: he would have acquired immortal glory and be renowned in future ages as the deliverer of his country, worshiped as its idol and called its savior as Washington was. Thus Mr. Botts artfully contrived to present the character of Aaron Burr as his defenders chose to imagine it. The defense scored the prosecution for trying to introduce constructive treason into the United States. It did not object to introducing constructive heroism, provided the hero was Colonel Burr. The Colonel laughed at William Wirt’s extravagant language. Is it not possible that he stifled a cynical smile as he heard himself thus being glorified by young Botts? Mr. Botts’s supposing ended, he next described in heart-rending language the manner in which the well-meaning and patriotic Colonel had been basely betrayed and thwarted. In what some might have considered not too good taste he recalled that Christ himself had been abused, mocked, and spit upon. Why then should not a mere mortal man be in like manner abused? The young champion next raised his lance against the President of the United States. He charged that Mr. Jefferson’s interference with the prosecution of the case was improper, illegal, and unconstitutional. He had no doubt, he said, that the President had acted from good intentions, without sufficiently reflecting on the subject, and that he was inadvertently following one of the very worst English examples in the most arbitrary reigns. He wished Mr. Jefferson could be at his side now to hear what could be said on the subject. Young Mr. Botts was sufficiently sure of his powers of persuasion to believe that under those circumstances Mr. Jefferson would be convinced that he had done wrong.