NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Burr conspiracy

This article does not cite any references or sources. (October 2006)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

The Burr conspiracy was a suspected treasonous “cabal” of planters, politicians and army officers led by former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. According to the accusations against him, Burr’s goal was to create an independent nation in the center of North America and/or the Southwest and parts of Mexico. Burr’s explanation: To take possession of, and farm, 40,000 acres (160 km²) in the Texas Territory leased to him by the Spanish. When the expected war with France broke out, he would fight with his armed “farmers,” to seize some lands he could conquer in the war–all illegal by rules of warfare. (Note: this was before the Louisiana Purchase had been officially accepted by the U.S. Government as a territory. Thomas Jefferson was having second thoughts about absorbing it into the union. Any taking of that land by an American at that time would not have been unconstitutional or even illegal.) Jefferson and others had Burr arrested and indicted for treason with no firm evidence put forward. He stood trial in Richmond, Virginia for treason because of the alleged conspiracy but was acquitted due to lack of evidence. A Revolutionary War hero, U.S. Senator, New York State Attorney General and Assemblyman, and finally Vice President under Jefferson, Burr adamantly denied and vehemently resented all charges against his honor, his character or his patriotism. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... For other uses, see Treason (disambiguation) or Traitor (disambiguation). ... A cabal is a number of persons united in some close design, usually to promote their private views and interests in a church, state, or other community by intrigue. ... Fundamentally, a plantation is usually a large farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country, on which cotton, tobacco, coffee, sugar cane, or trees and the like is cultivated, usually by resident laborers. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box: A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... An officer is a member of a military, naval, or if applicable, other uniformed services who holds a position of responsibility. ... The Vice President of the United States (sometimes referred to as VPOTUS[1] or Veep) is the first in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death, resignation, or removal of the president. ... This article discusses Aaron Burr (1756-1836), the American politician. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Spanish Texas is the name given by Texas history scholars to the period between 1690 and 1821 when Texas was goverened as a province of the Spanish colony of New Spain. ... The two parts of the laws of war (or Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC)): Law concerning acceptable practices while engaged in war, like the Geneva Conventions, is called jus in bello; while law concerning allowable justifications for armed force is called jus ad bellum. ... For the musical, see Louisiana Purchase (musical) and Louisiana Purchase (film). ... This article describes the government of the United States. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.â€“4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801â€“09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The United States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... Nickname: Motto: Sic dic Itur Ad Astra (Thus do we reach the stars) Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia Coordinates: , Country State County Independent City Government - Mayor L. Douglas Wilder (I) Area - City 62. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about military actions only. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... See also Attorney General. ...

1 Background and plan
2 Players
3 Events
4 Arrest
5 Trial
6 See also
7 Further reading

Background and plan

After being charged for the murder of Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804, Aaron Burr ran to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to escape arrest. Later on he conceived plans to emigrate, he always claimed, to take possession of land in the Texas Territories leased to him by the Spanish (the lease was granted, and copies still exist). Burr’s true intentions are still considered ambiguous to some historians, who claim he intended to take parts of Texas and some or all of the Louisiana Purchase for himself. They claim Burr envisioned a new empire in the West over which he would rule. This historically unproven version of a conspiracy by Burr to take American land is still in print in many biographies, encyclopedias, and even history books.^{[citation needed]} Letters written to this version can be found in letters by contemporaries who distrusted Burr, but no solid evidence can be found. Burr did meet with the British Foreign Minister, Anthony Merry, and, as he explained to several of his colleagues, implied that the British might regain power in the Southwest if they contributed money to his expedition. Merry gave him fifteen hundred dollars and never saw him again. A man of few words, Burr was good at implying much without actually committing himself–“smoke and mirrors”–a trait that infuriated many of his contemporaries. kmi Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757â€“July 12, 1804) was an Army officer, lawyer, Founding Father, American politician, leading statesman, financier and political theorist. ... A contemporary artistic rendering of the July 11, 1804 duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton by J. Mund. ... 1804 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ... Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area Ranked 33rd - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 kmÂ²) - Width 280 miles (455 km) - Length 160 miles (255 km) - % water 2. ...

Players

James Wilkinson: James Wilkinson was one of Burr’s most important co-conspirators. Though it was eventually discovered that his involvement in the conspiracy was most likely an attempt to further his own personal and political goals, he worked closely with Burr to develop a plan for secession. The commanding General of the Army at the time, Wilkinson was known for his corrupt practices, including his attempt to separate Kentucky and Tennessee from the union during the 1780’s. Burr persuaded President Thomas Jefferson to appoint Wilkinson to the position of Governor of the Territory of Louisiana. Wilkenson would later come to betray Burr by revealing his plot to Jefferson and denying all involvement in the conspiracy. William Eaton charged that Wilkinson had attempted to involve him in the conspiracy.
Anthony Merry: In 1805, when his term as Vice President ended, Burr met with Anthony Merry, the British Minister to the United States. Burr offered to detach Louisiana from the Union in exchange for a half a million dollars and a British fleet in the Gulf of Mexico. Merry considered following through with the deal; however, those with whom he worked in London expressed no interest in furthering American secessionism.
Harman Blennerhassett: Blennerhasset proved a valuable tool in helping Burr further his plan. He provided friendship, support, and most importantly access to the island that he owned on the Ohio River, about 2 miles (3 km) below what is now Parkersburg, West Virginia. Burr and his co-conspirators used this island as a storage space for men and supplies.

General James Wilkinson James Wilkinson (1757 â€“ December 28, 1825) was a U.S. soldier and statesman, who was associated with several scandals and controversies. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.â€“4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801â€“09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... From Frank Bond, Louisiana and the Louisiana Purchase. ... William Eaton (23 February 1764 â€“ 1 June 1811) was a United States Army officer, involved with the First Barbary War. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Harman Blennerhassett (1765 -1831), Irish-American lawyer, son of an Irish country gentleman of English stock settled in Co. ... View of Pittsburgh, the largest metropolitan area on the Ohio River, where the Allegheny River (left) and the Monongahela River (right) join at Point State Park to form the Ohio River Cincinnati, Ohio is a well known city along the Ohio River, historically known for its riverboats. ... Location in Wood County in the State of West Virginia Coordinates: , Country United States State West Virginia County Wood Incorporated 1810 Government - Mayor Robert Newell Area - City 12. ...

Events

In 1805, Burr went west in order to recruit volunteers to enter Spanish territories. In New Orleans, he met with the Mexican Associates, a group of ’’criollos’’ whose objective was to conquer Mexico. Burr was able to gain the support of New Orleans’ Catholic bishop for his expedition into Mexico. NOLA redirects here. ... The term Creole and its cognates in other languages â€” such as crioulo, criollo, crÃ©ole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. ...

With news of his plan slowly leaking into public domain, charges were brought against Burr in Kentucky by Joseph Hamilton Daviess, the federal District Attorney for Kentucky, claiming that Burr wished to make war with Mexico. Yet with the help of his adroit young attorney, Henry Clay, Burr was able to have the case dismissed. Official language(s) English[1] Capital Frankfort Largest city Louisville Area Ranked 37th - Total 40,444 sq mi (104,749 kmÂ²) - Width 140 miles (225 km) - Length 379 miles (610 km) - % water 1. ... Major Joseph Hamilton Daviess commanded the Dragoons of the Indiana Militia at the Battle of Tippecanoe. ... A district attorney is, in some U.S. jurisdictions, the title of the local public official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminals. ... For his namesake son, see Henry Clay, Jr. ...

Following the events in Kentucky, Burr went back west later into 1806 with the hope of recruiting more volunteers for a military expedition down the Mississippi River. Here he recruited Blennerhassett and began using his island, Blennerhasset Island, to store men and supplies. The Governor of Ohio grew suspicious of the activity on the island, and ordered the state militia to raid the island and seize all supplies. Blennerhasset managed to escape with one boat, and he met up with Burr at the operation’s Headquarters on the Cumberland River. With a significantly smaller force, the two headed down the Ohio River to the Mississippi River and New Orleans. Wilkinson had vowed to supply troops at New Orleans; however, he had come to the conclusion that the conspiracy was bound to fail, and rather than providing these troops, Wilkinson revealed Burr’s plan to President Jefferson. Blennerhasset Island, an island on the Ohio River below the mouth of the Little Kanawha River, is located near Parkersburg in Wood County, West Virginia. ... Edward Tiffin (June 19, 1766 â€“ August 9, 1829) was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio, and the first Governor of that state. ... The Cumberland River is an important waterway in the southern United States. ...

Arrest

In February and March, 1806, Jo Daviess, United States District Attorney for Kentucky wrote Jefferson several letters warning him of possible conspiratorial activities by Burr. Daveiss’ July 14 letter to Jefferson stated flatly that Burr planned to provoke a rebellion in Spanish-held parts of the West in order to join them to areas in the Southwest to form an independent nation under his rule. Similar accusations were appearing against local Democratic-Republicans in a Frankfort, Kentucky newspaper, Western World, and Jefferson dismissed Daveiss’s accusations against Burr, a Democratic-Republican, as politically motivated. Major Joseph Hamilton Daviess commanded the Dragoons of the Indiana Militia at the Battle of Tippecanoe. ... United States Attorneys represent the U.S. federal government in United States district court. ... Frankfort is the capital of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, a state of the United States of America. ...

Rumors of political instability in the West finally forced themselves upon Jefferson and his cabinet, with their suspicions being confirmed when Wilkinson sent him correspondence received from Burr. In an attempt to preserve his innocence and career, Wilkinson edited these correspondences. The letters had been sent to Wilkinson in cypher, however he altered the letter to prove both his "innocence" and Burr's guilt. He warned Jefferson that Burr was “meditating the overthrow of [his] administration” and “conspiring against the State.” Jefferson alerted Congress of the plan, and ordered the arrest of anyone who conspired to attack Spanish territory.[[1]] He warned authorities in the West to be aware of suspicious activities. Convinced of Burr’s guilt, Jefferson ordered his arrest. Burr fled to the Mississippi Territory, where he was aprehended. He managed his escape from the searchers and was recaptured in February, 1807 and confined at Fort Stoddert. While in transport to Washington D.C. he again attempted escape in South Carolina, but failed. Look up Cypher in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... all about mississippi! Mississippi state bird is a mocking bird mississippi state tree is mangoila tree ... Year 1807 (MDCCCVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... Fort Stoddert was a fort located north of Mobile, Alabama on the Mobile River, close to the confluence of the Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area Ranked 40th - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 kmÂ²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 260 miles (420 km) - % water 6 - Latitude 32Â° 2â€² N to 35Â° 13â€² N - Longitude 78Â° 32â€² W to 83...

Trial

Burr was charged with treason for assembling an armed force to take New Orleans and separate the Western from the Atlantic states. He was also charged with high misdemeanor for sending a military expedition against territories belonging to Spain. Geroge Hay, the prosecuting U.S. Attorney, complied a list of over 140 witnesses, one of whom was Andrew Jackson. In order to encourage witness participation, it is said that Thomas Jefferson gave Hay sheets of blank pardons. For other uses, see Treason (disambiguation) or Traitor (disambiguation). ... High Misdemeanor is an archaic term in English Law for a number of positive misprisions, neglects and contempts. ... United States Attorneys represent the U.S. federal government in United States district court. ... For other uses, see Andrew Jackson (disambiguation). ... For the Breton religious festivals, see Pardon (ceremony). ...

The case met oppostition from the beginning, with the high misdemeanor charge being dropped when the government was unable to prove that the expedition had been military in nature or directed towards Spanish territory.

Burr’s trial brought into question the ideas of executive privilege and the independence of the executive. Burr’s lawyers, including John Wickham, asked Chief Justice John Marshall to subpoena Jefferson, claiming that they needed documents from Jefferson in order to accurately present their case. Jefferson proclaimed that as President, he reserved the right to decide “what papers coming to him as President, the public interests permit to be communicated [and] to whom.” He insisted that all relevant papers had been made available, and that he was not subject to this writ because he held executive privilege. He also argued that he should not be subject to the commands of the judiciary, because the constitution guaranteed the executive branch’s independence from the judicial branch. Marshall sided with Burr, deciding that the subpoena could be issued despite Jefferson’s position of presidency. Though Marshall vowed to consider Jefferson’s office and avoid “vexatious and unnecessary subpoenas,” his ruling was significant because it suggested that like all citizens, the President was subject to the law. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... John Wickham (June 6, 1763â€“January 22, 1839) was an American Loyalist and attorney best remembered for his role in the treason trial of former Vice President Aaron Burr. ... For other persons named John Marshall, see John Marshall (disambiguation). ...

Burr’s case required Marshall to consider the definition of treason. It raised the question of whether or not intent was enough to convict someone of treason. Marshall ruled that because Burr had not committed an act of war, he could not be found guilty. Because the First Amendment guaranteed Burr the right to voice opposition to the government, “merely suggesting war or engaging in a conspiracy was not enough to require a conviction.” In order to be convicted of treason, Marshall ruled, an overt act of participation must be proven with evidence. Intention to divide the union was not an overt act: “There must be an actual assembling of men for the treasonable purpose, to constitute a levying of war.” Marshall further supported his decision by indicating that the Constitution stated that two witnesses must see the same overt act against the country. Marshall, however, narrowly construed the definition of treason provided in Article III of the Constitution; he noted that the prosecution had failed to prove that Burr had committed an "overt act," as the Constitution required. As a result, the jury acquitted the defendant, leading to increased animosity between the President and the Chief Justice. Casus belli is a modern Latin language expression meaning the justification for acts of war. ... The first ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. ...

Contents

Background and plan GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Players

Events

Arrest

Trial

See also

Further reading

Background and plan