Author #2
Bayou Pierre, Louisiana Territory
January 10th, 1807
Aaron Burr was cheerful. Good cheer, he had found, was contagious. His men were happy, and so he was happy, despite all that could, and probably should, have worried him.
Rumors were flying that President Jefferson had caught on to his plan. Harman Blennerhassett, his co-conspirator, had had no word from his estates in days, and feared it had been seized by federal troops. Most ominously of all, General Gerris Wilkerson, military governor of Louisiana Territory and another conspirator, had not been where he had promised to be, with the promised force of arms. But these were merely trifles in Burr's mind. Rumors had been going on for months before, Blennerhassett was a worrywart, and Wilkerson had left word that he would meet Burr in New Orleans with the promised troops.
So, Aaron Burr and the 60 or so men he did have floated on merrily down the Mississippi, full of anticipation of what was to come. Burr pulled out a well-worn map of Orleans Territory and traced his finger along the remaining distance to travel. "Only 30 miles to New Orleans," he thought aloud, "and then I can seize the power that is due to me. An Empire, over the vast American west!" Burr sighed wistfully, leaning back and staring at the sky.
Burr's dreams of empire were interrupted by the staccato thudding of a horse's hooves on the road running by the riverbank. Diverting his eyes from the wispy clouds above, Burr saw that the rider of the approaching horse was Harman Blennerhassett. Burr waved and called out to him, "Harman, back already? Did you find the general?" Blennerhassett had been sent ahead of the main party to search for Gerris Wilkerson and arrange for a meeting place between the two forces.
Blennerhassett dismounted and approached Burr. The fear in the man's eyes was unnerving. "What's wrong?" inquired Burr.
"We're cooked, Aaron," the other responded, handing Burr a paper, which Burr saw to be a copy of the New Orleans Picayune. Puzzled, Burr glanced at the paper, and blanched when he read the headline.
Near panic, Burr quickly scanned the article. "They know we're here, Aaron. Jefferson's released a warrant for our arrest, and 275 federal troops are already on their way," Blennerhassett continued.
Aaron Burr threw the newspaper to the dirt in disgust. "There's no way they could know that much detail about the plan. Gerris must have betrayed us!" he fumed. Blennerhassett only nodded.
"I don't know about you, Harman, but I'm not going that easy. They robbed me of the vice presidency, they won't rob me of this!" Burr swung up onto Blennerhassett's horse and with a savage kick in the beast's side went galloping off to the south.
---
Washington, D.C.
September 1st, 1807
Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, stared out over Washington in silence. It was almost time to go to the Capitol, to hear the verdict and sentencing of the trial of the young century. It had been a long, hard fight, even from the time Burr was dragged out of the Mississippi while trying to flee federal soldiers. It didn't help that John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, disliked Jefferson so much...
As if reading his mind, a voice came from behind him. "You know, without me, Marshall probably would have declared what Burr did not to be an overt act of treason and let him off just to spite you." Jefferson turned to see Alexander Hamilton standing in his doorway, supported by a cane.
Hamilton had proved instrumental in the case against Burr. Even greater than Marshall's dislike for Jefferson was Hamilton's hatred of Burr, and the New York congressman was a walking reminder of Burr's past evils--or, rather, a limping one. Burr's duel with Hamilton now over three years hence had left the latter with a bullet in his leg and the need of a cane for support. Hamilton had been lucky--had the bullet hit a few inches higher... Hamilton was right. Jefferson probably would be facing Burr's acquittal today.
But Hamilton had lived, and when Burr was once more mentioned in a secessionist plot, Jefferson had sought the Federalist out. Hamilton, like Marshall, didn't think much of Jefferson, but the president had been able to convince him to add his own weight to the conviction of Burr. Marshall's professional respect for another stalwart of his own party would hopefully loosen the justice's interpretation of treason...
Hamilton and Jefferson rode together to the Capitol, where the Supreme Court would convene. Making their way in silence down to the basement room where the court met, the two men entered the Court chambers to find many already arrived to hear the verdict. Taking a seat next to Hamilton near the back of the room, Jefferson waited.
Some time later, just as scheduled, the justices of the Supreme Court ceremoniously entered the chamber, John Marshall presiding. The gaunt face of the Chief Justice peered out across the courtroom, settling on Burr and withering the conspirator with his gaze.
Finally, it was time. John Marshall banged his gavel and began to speak.
"It is the opinion of this, the Supreme Court of the United States of America, that the leading of an unauthorized body of armed troops, with intent to attack the United States or another power at peace with the United States, is as constitutionally defined an overt act of treason against this country. As such, the defendant Aaron Burr is found by this court to be guilty on the charge of treason, and has hereby forfeited his lands and property to the government of the United States. Furthermore, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.
"May God have mercy on your soul."
Bayou Pierre, Louisiana Territory
January 10th, 1807
Aaron Burr was cheerful. Good cheer, he had found, was contagious. His men were happy, and so he was happy, despite all that could, and probably should, have worried him.
Rumors were flying that President Jefferson had caught on to his plan. Harman Blennerhassett, his co-conspirator, had had no word from his estates in days, and feared it had been seized by federal troops. Most ominously of all, General Gerris Wilkerson, military governor of Louisiana Territory and another conspirator, had not been where he had promised to be, with the promised force of arms. But these were merely trifles in Burr's mind. Rumors had been going on for months before, Blennerhassett was a worrywart, and Wilkerson had left word that he would meet Burr in New Orleans with the promised troops.
So, Aaron Burr and the 60 or so men he did have floated on merrily down the Mississippi, full of anticipation of what was to come. Burr pulled out a well-worn map of Orleans Territory and traced his finger along the remaining distance to travel. "Only 30 miles to New Orleans," he thought aloud, "and then I can seize the power that is due to me. An Empire, over the vast American west!" Burr sighed wistfully, leaning back and staring at the sky.
Burr's dreams of empire were interrupted by the staccato thudding of a horse's hooves on the road running by the riverbank. Diverting his eyes from the wispy clouds above, Burr saw that the rider of the approaching horse was Harman Blennerhassett. Burr waved and called out to him, "Harman, back already? Did you find the general?" Blennerhassett had been sent ahead of the main party to search for Gerris Wilkerson and arrange for a meeting place between the two forces.
Blennerhassett dismounted and approached Burr. The fear in the man's eyes was unnerving. "What's wrong?" inquired Burr.
"We're cooked, Aaron," the other responded, handing Burr a paper, which Burr saw to be a copy of the New Orleans Picayune. Puzzled, Burr glanced at the paper, and blanched when he read the headline.
WANTED: AARON BURR
FOR THE CRIME OF TREASON
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOR THE CRIME OF TREASON
AGAINST THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Near panic, Burr quickly scanned the article. "They know we're here, Aaron. Jefferson's released a warrant for our arrest, and 275 federal troops are already on their way," Blennerhassett continued.
Aaron Burr threw the newspaper to the dirt in disgust. "There's no way they could know that much detail about the plan. Gerris must have betrayed us!" he fumed. Blennerhassett only nodded.
"I don't know about you, Harman, but I'm not going that easy. They robbed me of the vice presidency, they won't rob me of this!" Burr swung up onto Blennerhassett's horse and with a savage kick in the beast's side went galloping off to the south.
---
Washington, D.C.
September 1st, 1807
Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America, stared out over Washington in silence. It was almost time to go to the Capitol, to hear the verdict and sentencing of the trial of the young century. It had been a long, hard fight, even from the time Burr was dragged out of the Mississippi while trying to flee federal soldiers. It didn't help that John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, disliked Jefferson so much...
As if reading his mind, a voice came from behind him. "You know, without me, Marshall probably would have declared what Burr did not to be an overt act of treason and let him off just to spite you." Jefferson turned to see Alexander Hamilton standing in his doorway, supported by a cane.
Hamilton had proved instrumental in the case against Burr. Even greater than Marshall's dislike for Jefferson was Hamilton's hatred of Burr, and the New York congressman was a walking reminder of Burr's past evils--or, rather, a limping one. Burr's duel with Hamilton now over three years hence had left the latter with a bullet in his leg and the need of a cane for support. Hamilton had been lucky--had the bullet hit a few inches higher... Hamilton was right. Jefferson probably would be facing Burr's acquittal today.
But Hamilton had lived, and when Burr was once more mentioned in a secessionist plot, Jefferson had sought the Federalist out. Hamilton, like Marshall, didn't think much of Jefferson, but the president had been able to convince him to add his own weight to the conviction of Burr. Marshall's professional respect for another stalwart of his own party would hopefully loosen the justice's interpretation of treason...
Hamilton and Jefferson rode together to the Capitol, where the Supreme Court would convene. Making their way in silence down to the basement room where the court met, the two men entered the Court chambers to find many already arrived to hear the verdict. Taking a seat next to Hamilton near the back of the room, Jefferson waited.
Some time later, just as scheduled, the justices of the Supreme Court ceremoniously entered the chamber, John Marshall presiding. The gaunt face of the Chief Justice peered out across the courtroom, settling on Burr and withering the conspirator with his gaze.
Finally, it was time. John Marshall banged his gavel and began to speak.
"It is the opinion of this, the Supreme Court of the United States of America, that the leading of an unauthorized body of armed troops, with intent to attack the United States or another power at peace with the United States, is as constitutionally defined an overt act of treason against this country. As such, the defendant Aaron Burr is found by this court to be guilty on the charge of treason, and has hereby forfeited his lands and property to the government of the United States. Furthermore, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.
"May God have mercy on your soul."