All this, however, will work
well. The nation will judge both the offender and judges for themselves.
If a member of the executive or legislature does wrong, the day is never
far distant when the people will remove him. They will see then, and
amend the error in our constitution, which makes any branch independent
of the nation. They will see that one of the great co-ordinate branches
of the government, setting itself in opposition to the other two, and
to the common sense of the nation, proclaims impunity to that class
of offenders which endeavors to overturn the constitution, and are
themselves protected in it by the constitution itself: for impeachment
is a farce which will not be tried again. If their protection of Burr
produces this amendment, it will do more good than his condemnation
would have done. Against Burr, personally, I never had one hostile
sentiment. I never, indeed, thought him an honest, frank-dealing man,
but considered him as a crooked gun, or other perverted machine, whose
aim or shot you could never be sure of. Still, while he possessed the
confidence of the nation, I thought it my duty to respect in him their
confidence, and to treat him as if he deserved it: and if his punishment
can be commuted now for an useful amendment of the constitution, I shall
rejoice in it. My sheet being full, I perceive it is high time to
offer you my friendly salutations, and assure you of my constant and
affectionate esteem and respect.
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