Aaron Burr arrested for treason
Aaron Burr a former U.S.vice president is arrested in Alabama on charges of plotting to annex Spanish territory in Louisiana and Mexico to be used toward the establishment of an independent republic.In November 1800 in an election conducted before presidential and vice-presidential candidates shared a single ticket Thomas Jefferson and his running mate Aaron Burr defeated Federalist incumbent John Adams with 73 electoral votes each.The tie vote then went to the House to be decided and Federalist Alexander Hamilton was instrumental in breaking the deadlock in Jeffersons favor.
Burr because he finished second became vice president.During the next few years President Jefferson grew apart from his vice president and did not support Burrs renomination to a second term in 1804.A faction of the Federalists who had found their fortunes drastically diminished after the ascendance of Jefferson sought to enlist the disgruntled Burr into their party.However Alexander Hamilton opposed such a move and was quoted by a New York newspaper saying that he looked upon Mr.
Burr to be a dangerous man and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of government.The article also referred to occasions when Hamilton had expressed an even more despicable opinion of Burr.Burr demanded an apology Hamilton refused so Burr challenged his old political antagonist to a duel.On July 11 1804 the pair met at a remote spot in Weehawken New Jersey.
Hamilton whose son was killed in a duel in 1801 deliberately fired into the air but Burr fired with intent to kill.Hamilton fatally wounded died in New York City the next day.The questionable circumstances of Hamiltons death effectively brought Burrs political career to an end.Fleeing to Virginia he traveled to New Orleans after finishing his term as vice president and met with U.S.
General James Wilkinson who was an agent for the Spanish.The exact nature of what the two plotted is unknown but speculation ranges from the establishment of an independent republic in the American Southwest to the seizure of territory in Spanish America for the same purpose.In the fall of 1806 Burr led a group of well-armed colonists toward New Orleans prompting an immediate investigation by U.S.authorities.
General Wilkinson in an effort to save himself turned against Burr and sent dispatches to Washington accusing Burr of treason.On February 19 1807 Burr was arrested in Alabama for treason and sent to Richmond Virginia to be tried in a U.S.circuit court.On September 1 1807 he was acquitted on the grounds that although he had conspired against the United States he was not guilty of treason because he had not engaged in an overt act a requirement of treason as specified by the U.S.
Constitution.Nevertheless public opinion condemned him as a traitor and he spent several years in Europe before returning to New York and resuming his law practice.
