Title: Hamilton and Burr’s Duel Correspondence
Author: Alexander Hamilton, Burr
Origin: Wikisource
Link to Origin: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Hamilton%E2%80%93Burr_duel_correspondences
Date of Origin: June 18, 1804
N York 18 June 1804
Sir,
I send for your perusal a letter signed Ch. D. Cooper which, though apparently published some time ago, has but very recently come to my knowledge. Mr. Van Ness, who does me the favor to deliver this, will point out to you that clause of the letter to which I particularly request your attention.
You must perceive, Sir, the necessity of a prompt and unqualified acknowledgement or denial of the use of any expressions which could warrant the assertions of Dr. Cooper.
I have the honor to be
Your Obdt. St
A. Burr
Hamilton to Burr, June 20, 1804[edit]
N York 20 June 1804
Sir:
I have maturely reflected on the subject of your letter of the 18th Instant, and the more I have reflected, the more I have become convinced that I could not without manifest impropriety make the avowal or disavowal which you seem to think necessary.
The clause pointed out by Mr. Van Ness is in these terms: “I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.” To endeavor to discover the meaning of this declaration, I was obliged to seek in the antecedent part of the letter for the opinion to which it referred, as having been already disclosed. I found it in these words: “Genl. Hamilton and Judge Kent have declared in substance that they looked upon Mr. Burr to be a dangerous man, and one who ought not to be trusted with the reins of Government.” The language of Dr. Cooper plainly implies that he considered this opinion of you, which he attributes to me, as a despicable one; but he affirms that I have expressed some other still more despicable; without, however, mentioning to whom, when or where. ‘Tis evident that the phrase “still more despicable” admits of infinite shades from very light to very dark. How am I to judge of the degree intended. Or how should I annex any precise idea to language so vague?
Between Gentlemen despicable and still more despicable are not worth the pains of a distinction. When, therefore, you do not interrogate me as to the opinion which is specifically ascribed to me, I must conclude that you view it as within the limits to which the animadversions of political opponents, upon each other, may justifiably extend; and consequently as not warranting the idea of it which Dr. Cooper appears to entertain. If so, what precise inference could you draw as a guide for your future conduct, were I to acknowledge that I had expressed an opinion of you, still more despicable than the one which is particularized? How could you be sure that even this opinion had exceeded the bounds which you would yourself deem admissible between political opponents?
But I forbear further comment on the embarrassment to which the requisition you have made naturally leads. The occasion forbids a more ample illustration, though nothing would be more easy than to pursue it.
Repeating that I can not reconcile it with propriety to make the acknowledgment or denial you desire, I will add that I deem it inadmissible on principle, to consent to be interrogated as to the justness of the inferences which may be drawn by others, from whatever I may have said of a political opponent in the course of a fifteen years competition. If there were no other objection to it, this is sufficient, that it would tend to expose my sincerity and delicacy to injurious imputations from every person who may at any time have conceived that import of my expressions differently from what I may then have intended, or may afterwards recollect.
I stand ready to avow or disavow promptly and explicitly any precise or definite opinion which I may be charged with having declared to any gentleman. More than this can not fitly be expected from me; and especially it can not reasonably be expected that I shall enter into an explanation upon a basis so vague as that which you have adopted. I trust upon more reflection you will see the matter in the same light with me. If not, I can only regret the circumstances and must abide the consequences.
The publication of Dr. Cooper was never seen by me ‘till after the receipt of your letter.
Sir, I have the honor to be
Your Obdt. St
A. Hamilton
Hamilton and Burr’s “Beef” is one the biggest in US history. Having two political figures butting heads like this was major. One a vice president and the other a founding father. Both hated each other due to different views. Both men were suffering from power trips and their egos are easily shown in the letters they send back and forth to each other. Burr starts the series of letters by sending Hamilton a letter informing him on intel he has received from Dr. Cooper. [1]
Burr sent Van Ness to personally deliver his letter to Hamilton and relay his message clearly so Hamilton understood him. He then requests for his perception of his message. It seems as if Burr was looking for a reaction from Hamilton. [2]
Hamilton then responds days later appearing to be unfazed from the random letter he got from Burr. He responds saying that he can’t perceive his message in any way. He says “ I could not without manifest impropriety make the avowal or disavowal which you seem to think necessary”. In the quote he seems to come off as not caring about the situation. He probably did have his own perceptions of the letter but didn’t to share them as a tactic to get under Burr’s skin.[3]
Hamilton seems to understand everything Burr was saying because he then proceeds to dissect what Van Ness, Burr’s messenger, said to him and gave to him.[4] Hamilton then switches around the words of Dr.Cooper and is saying that he said that Burr is not to be trusted in politics. He’s basically discrediting Burr’s source of information on him.[5]
Hamilton then tells Burr that he shouldn’t go looking for problems with other people when he is the only problematic person. The exchanges between the two are in a way, polite disrespect towards each other.[6] Once again the overall length of Hamilton’s letter compared to Burr’s almost three times bigger. This entails that Hamilton did in fact take some notice to Burr’s letter and had a few things to say about it as seen in the response.[7] Hamilton refers to comments being said about Burr from his political colleagues. He also questions how someone of that kind of nature can attain such power over the nation.
Sources
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burr–Hamilton_duel
[2] www.history.com/this-day-in-history/burr-slays-hamilton-in-duel
[3] https://www.britannica.com/list/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-hamilton-burr-duel-according-to-hamiltons-burr
[4] https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/burr-vs-hamilton-behind-the-ultimate-political-feud
[5] www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/nation/jb_nation_hamburr_1.html