Years, however, were to pass before the full effects of this difference
showed themselves; meanwhile the removals were checked, and Duane
pacified at least in some degree, but it is a curious fact that the
cause which interposed the first obstacle to these wholesale removals
was another party schism, of which New York was the field and Aaron Burr
the victim; and in this case it appears that Mr. Gallatin favored
removal rather than otherwise, while it was Mr. Jefferson who, out of
distrust to Burr, maintained the Federal incumbent in office. The story
is curious and interesting.
The naval officer in New York was one Rogers, said to have been a Tory
of the Revolution. The candidate for his place was Matthew L. Davis,
Burr's right-hand man, and supported by Burr with all his energy. The
great mass of New York Republicans, outside of the Livingston and
Clinton interests, were attached to Burr and pressed Davis for office.
Commodore Nicholson was hot about it. "It is rumored," he wrote to
Gallatin on the 10th August, "that Mr. Harrison in the State government
and Mr. Rogers in the general one are to be continued. Should that be
the determination, a petition should go on to both governments pointing
out the consequences. I can with truth declare I have no doubt it will
bring the Republican interest in this city (if not the State) in the
minority; and as it applies to the President himself, I am of opinion
that he ought to be made acquainted with it. There is no truth more
confirmed in my mind of the badness of the policy than keeping their
political enemies in office to trample upon us; after which, if he
perseveres, I am bold to say if I live to see another election I shall
think it my duty to use my interest against his re-election." The
commodore was a great admirer of Burr, but a month later the commodore
himself, much against Mr. Gallatin's wishes, applied for and obtained
the post of loan-officer in New York, under a recommendation of De Witt
Clinton, and his mouth was henceforth closed. The share which Mr.
Gallatin took in the New York contest is shown in the following
letters:
BURR TO GALLATIN.
NEW YORK, June 8, 1801.
DEAR SIR,--I have seen with pain a paragraph in the Citizen of Friday
respecting removals from office. Pray tell the President,
notwithstanding any ebullitions of this kind, he may be confidently
assured that the great mass of Republicans in this State are determined
that he shall do things at his own time and in his own manner, and that
they will justify his measures without inquiring into his reasons. I
think you will not see any more paragraphs in the style of that referred
to....
BURR TO GALLATIN.
NEW YORK, June 23, 1801.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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