1804+Duel

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= Bad Blood Reading 1 =

The duel grew out of a long history of conflict between the two New York politicians.

After Burr defeated his father-in-law in a race for the U.S. Senate, Hamilton wrote:

“I fear Mr. Burr is unprincipled, both as a public and a private man. In fact, I take it he is for or against nothing but as it suits his interest and ambition.”

When Burr ran for Vice President, Hamilton commented:

“Mr. Burr is determined, as I conceive, to climb to the highest honors of the state. He is bold, enterprising, and intriguing, and I feel it is a religious duty to oppose his career.”

When the Federalist-controlled House of Representatives had to decide between Jefferson and Burr for president in 1800, Hamilton threw his support to Jefferson:

“There is no doubt but that upon every virtuous and prudent calculation Jefferson is to be preferred. He is by far not so dangerous a man and he has pretensions to character.”

= Accounts of the Duel Reading 2 = Duels were private affairs between gentlemen. They were technically illegal and thus occurred under the cloak of secrecy. Three witnesses provided testimony about the events on July 11, 1804. Nathaniel Pendleton (Hamilton's friend and second) and William Van Ness (Burr's friend and second) wrote a joint statement a few hours after the duel dated 11 July 1804. [July 11, 1804] Col Burr arrived first on the ground as had been previously agreed. When Generall Hamilton arrived the parties exchanged salutations and the Seconds proceeded to make their arrangements. They measured the distance, ten full paces, and cast lots for the choice of position as also to determine whom the word should be given, both of which fell to the Second of Genl Hamilton. They then proceeded to load the pistols in each others presence, after which the parties took their stations. The Gentleman who was to give the word, then explained to the parties the rules which were to govern them in firing which were as follows: The parties being placed at their stations – The Second who gives the word shall ask them whether they are ready – being answered in the affirmative, he shall say “present” after which the parties shall present & fire when they please. If one fires before the opposite shall say one, two, three, fire, and he shall fire or loose his fire. And asked if they were prepared, being answered in the affirmative, he gave the word present as had been agreed on. And both of the parties took aim & fired in succession. The intervening time is not expressed as the seconds do not precisely agree on that point. The pistols were discharged within a few seconds of each other and the fire of Col Burr took effect; Genl Hamilton almost instantly fell, Col Burr then advanced toward Genl H—n with a manner and gesture that appeared to Genl Hamilton’s friend to be expressive of regret, but without Speaking turned about & withdrew…. No farther communication took place between the principals and the Barge that carried Col. Burr immediately returned to the City. We conceive it proper to add that the conduct of the parties in that interview was perfectly proper as suited the occasion."
 * Statement for the Press Prepared Immediately after the Duel by Nathaniel Pendleton and William P. Van Ness. Pendleton was Hamilton’s second; Van Ness was Burr’s second.**

= Accounts of the Duel Reading 3 =


 * Protestant Episcopal Bishop Benjamin Moore administered communion to Alexander Hamilton prior to his death. He summarized their conversation.**

Yesterday morning, immediately after he was brought from Hoboken [New Jersey]…a message was sent informing me of the sad event, accompanied by a request from General Hamilton, that I would come to him for the purpose of administering the holy communion…. I observed to him…that however desirous I might be to afford consolation to a fellow mortal in distress; still, it was my duty as a minister of the gospel, to hold up the law of God as paramount to all other law; and that, therefore, under the influence of such sentiments, I must unequivocally condemn the practice which had brought him to his present unhappy condition. He acknowledged the propriety of these sentiments, and declared that he viewed the late transaction with sorrow and contrition. I then asked him, “Should it please God, to restore you to health, Sir, will you never be again engaged in a similar transaction? And will you employ all your influence in society to discountenance this barbarous custom?” His answer was, “That, Sir, is my deliberate intention.”

I proceeded to converse with him on the subject of his receiving the Communion…. [The bishop asked “]Are you disposed to live in love and charity with all men?” He lifted up his hands and said, “With the utmost sincerity of heart I can answer those questions in the affirmative—have no ill will against Col. Burr. I met him with a fixed resolution to do him no harm – I forgive all that happened.”

= Accounts of the Duel Reading 4 =

[July 19, 1804] Mr. P[endleton] expressed a confident opinion that General Hamilton did not fire first – and that he did not fire at all at Col. Burr. Mr. V[an] N[ess] seemed equally confident in the opinion that Gen. H. did fire first –and of course that it must have been at his antagonist…. 1st. Besides the testimonies of Bishop Moore, and the paper contained an expressed declaration, under General Hamilton’s own hand, enclosed to his friend in a packet, not to be delivered but in the event of his death, and which have already been published, General Hamilton informed Mr. P. at least ten days previous to the affair, that he had doubts whether he would not receive and not return Mr. Burr’s first fire. Mr. P. remonstrated against this determination, and urged many considerations against it, as dangerous to himself and not necessary in the particular case, when every ground of accommodation, not humiliating, had been proposed and rejected. He said he would not decide lightly, but take time to deliberate fully. It was incidentally mentioned again at their occasional subsequent conversations, and on the evening proceeding the time of the appointed interview, he informed Mr. P. he had made up his mind not to fire at Col. Burr the first time, but to receive his fire, and fire in the air. Mr. P. again urged him upon this subject, and repeated his former arguments. His final answer was in terms that made an impression on Mr. P’s mind which can never be effaced. “My friend, it is the effect of a Religious Scruple, and does not admit of reasoning, it is useless to say more on the subject, as my purpose is definitely fixed.” 2nd. His last words before he was wounded afford a proof that this purpose had not changed. When he received his pistol, after having taken his position, he was asked if he would have the hair spring set? – His answer was, “Not this time.” 3rd. After he was wounded, and laid in the boat, the first words he uttered after recovering the power of speech were, (addressing himself to a gentleman present, who perfectly well remembers it) “Pendleton knows I did not mean to fire at Col. Burr the first time.” 4th. This determination had been communicated by Mr. P. to that gentleman that morning before they left the city. 5th The pistol that had been used by General Hamilton, lying loose over the other apparatus in the case which was open; after having been some time in the boat, one of the boatmen took hold of it to put it into the case. General Hamilton observing this, said “Take care of that pistol – it is cocked. It may go off and do mischief.” This is also remembered by the Gentleman alluded to.
 * Nathaniel Pendleton’s Amended Version of His and William P. Ness’s Statement of July 11, 1804**

This shews (shows) that he was not sensible of having fired at all. If he had fired previous to receiving the wound, he would have remembered it, and therefore have known that the pistol could not go off; but if afterwards it must have been the effect of an involuntary exertion of the muscles produced by a mortal wound, in which case, eh could not have been conscious of having fired. 6. Mr. P having so strong a conviction that if General Hamilton had fired first, it could not have escaped his attention (all his anxiety being alive for the effect of the first fire, and having no reason to believe the friend of Col. Burr was not sincere in the contrary opinion) he determined to go to the spot where the affair took place, to see if he could not discover some traces of the course of the ball from Gen. Hamilton’s pistol. He took a friend with him the day after General Hamilton died, and after some examination they fortunately found what they were in search of. They ascertained that the ball passed through the limb of a cedar tree, at an elevation of about twelve feet and a half, perpendicularly from the ground, between thirteen and fourteen feet from the mark on which General Hamilton stood, and about four feet wide of the direct line between him and Col. Burr, on the right side; he having fallen on the left. The part of the limb through which the ball passed was cut off and brought to this city, and is no in Mr. Church’s possession.

= Accounts of the Duel Reading 5 =

The parties met…and then took their respective stations as directed: the pistols were then handed to them by the seconds. Gen Hamilton elevated his, as if to try the light, & lowering it said I beg for delaying you but the direction of the line renders it necessary, at the same time feeling his pockets with his left hand, & drawing forth his spectacles put them on. The second then asked if they were prepared which was replied to in the affirmative. The word present was then given, on which both parties took aim, the pistol of General Hamilton was first discharged and Col. Burr fired immediately after, only five or six seconds of the time intervening. On this point the second of Col Burr has full & perfect recollection, he noticed particularly the discharge
 * William P. Van Ness’s Amended Version of His and Nathaniel Pendleton’s Statement of July 11, 1804**

Based on the videos and the readings develop a position regarding the Hamilton Burr duel. Was it murder or not? The response must be one typed paragraph using MLA format. Be sure to use correct grammar and spelling. You must include at least two quotes to support your argument.
 * Assignment Due May 3**