The preliminary examination of Burr was private. The warrant was
served on him in his apartment by Major Scott, the Marshal of the
Virginia District, who, after informing him of the object of his
visit, conducted him to another room, where he was brought before
the Chief Justice. The few persons present were Cæsar A. Rodney,
Attorney-General of the United States; George Hay, the United States
Attorney for the Virginia District; Edmund Randolph and John Wickham,
counsel for the prisoner; the United States Marshal and his two
deputies; and a few friends of the counsel for Burr.
The evidence introduced on behalf of the prosecution was a copy of the
record in the case of Bollman and Swartout in the Supreme Court of the
United States, which contained the depositions of General Eaton and
General Wilkinson directly connecting Burr with the offense charged
against him. No verbal testimony was heard, except that of Major
Perkins, who told of the arrest of the prisoner and of his conveyance
of him to Richmond.
At the conclusion of the evidence a motion in writing was submitted by
Mr. Hay for the commitment of the accused on two charges, viz:--
First. For a high misdemeanor, in setting on foot, within the United
States, a military expedition against the dominions of the King of
Spain, a foreign prince, with whom the United States, at the time of
the offense, were, and still are, at peace.
Second. For treason in assembling an armed force, with a design to
seize the city of New Orleans, to revolutionize the territory attached
to it, and to separate the western from the Atlantic states.
It soon developed that this motion would cause considerable discussion,
and as previously agreed upon by counsel, with the approval of the
Chief Justice, the further hearing of the case was adjourned to the
House of Delegates in the Capitol, where all subsequent proceedings
were had.
The argument on the motion lasted two days. It was opened by Mr. Hay
for the United States. He was followed by Mr. Wickham and Mr. Randolph
for the accused. Colonel Burr spoke about ten minutes in his own
behalf, and Mr. Rodney, the Attorney-General of the United States,
closed the discussion.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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