Shout treason : $b the trial of Aaron BurrBeirne, Francis F.
History
Shout treason : $b the trial of Aaron Burr
Beirne, Francis F.
Burr Conspiracy, 1805-1807; Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836 -- Trials, litigation, etc.; Trials (Treason) -- United States
Colonel Burr’s urgent request that the trial be expedited seemed doomed
to failure. Mr. Lee, having been less long-winded than his colleagues,
completed his argument some time before the hour of adjournment. The
proposal was made to send a messenger to summon Mr. Martin whose
appearance was next on the agenda. But the lawyers of the defense who
were present declined to do so, stating again that Mr. Martin was not
yet ready. The Court therefore adjourned for the day.
It was not until Friday morning, August 28, that Mr. Martin at last
made his entry and rose to address the Court. In speech and appearance
he was coarse and crude. Toward his enemies he could be vindictive,
as he already had shown in the previous proceedings of the trial. His
emotions were as violently stirred in behalf of those he called his
friends. On the other hand no one surpassed him in his knowledge of the
law and in the application of that knowledge to whatever case he might
be pleading.
At the moment Colonel Burr enjoyed his complete loyalty. And since his
introduction to her a few weeks before he had developed a consuming
admiration for Theodosia Alston. Now came the supreme opportunity to
serve them both.
Mr. Martin opened his address with an expression of regret that the
artifices and persecutions of his enemies had placed Colonel Burr in
his present predicament. But, he continued: “I shall ever feel the
sincerest gratitude to Heaven, that my life has been preserved to this
time, and that I am enabled to appear before this Court in his defense.
“And if the efforts of these highly respectable and eminent gentlemen
with whom I have the honor to be associated, united with my feeble aid,
be successful in rescuing a gentleman for whom I with pleasure avow my
friendship and esteem, from the fangs of his persecutors--if our joint
efforts shall be successful in wiping away the tears of filial piety,
in healing the deep wounds inflicted on the breast of the child, by
the envenomed shafts of hatred and malice hurled at the heart of the
father--if our efforts shall succeed in preserving youth, innocence,
elegance and merit from despair, from distraction--it will be to me
the greatest pleasure. What dear delight will my heart enjoy. How
ineffable, how supreme will be my blessing.”
The solicitude of the elderly gentleman for the prisoner’s daughter
was not lost on his audience. The old and kindly disposed no doubt
heard them and were touched. The young and cynical were amused that the
old man’s infatuation for the beautiful young matron was capable of
producing such eloquence. It was one of the current jokes of the town.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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