' 'How is it to
be done,' says Hitchburn; 'Mr. Jefferson's friends will not quit him,
and his enemies are not strong enough to carry another.' 'Why,' says
Burr, 'our friends must join the federalists, and give the President.'
'The next morning at breakfast, Colonel Burr repeated nearly the same,
saying, 'We cannot be without a President, our friends must join the
federal vote.' 'But,' says Hitchburn, 'we shall then be without a
Vice-President; who is to be our Vice-President?' Colonel Burr answered,
'Mr. Jefferson.'
January the 26th. Colonel Burr, the Vice-President, calls on me in the
evening, having previously asked an opportunity of conversing with me.
He began by recapitulating summarily, that he had come to New York a
stranger, some years ago; that he found the country in possession of two
rich families (the Livingstons and Clintons); that his pursuits were not
political, and he meddled not. When the crisis, however, of 1800 came
on, they found their influence worn out, and solicited his aid with the
people. He lent it without any views of promotion. That his being named
as a candidate for Vice-President was unexpected by him. He acceded to
it with a view to promote my fame and advancement, and from a desire to
be with me, whose company and conversation had always been fascinating
to him. That, since, those great families had become hostile to him,
and had excited the calumnies which I had seen published.
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