r was seized upon by his
political foes, and made capital of to his sore disadvantage. Hamilton met
the issue by writing a pamphlet, laying bare the entire shameless affair,
to the horror of his family and friends. Copies of this pamphlet may be
seen in the rooms of the American Historical Society at New York. Burr had
been Attorney-General of New York State and also United States Senator.
Each man had served on Washington's staff; each had a brilliant military
record; each had acted as second in a duel; each recognized the honor of
the code.

Stern political differences arose, not so much through matters of opinion
and conscience, as through ambitious rivalry. Neither was willing the
other should rise, yet both thirsted for place and power. Burr ran for the
Presidency, and was sternly, strongly, bitterly opposed as "a dangerous
man" by Hamilton.

At the election one more electoral vote would have given the highest
office of the people to Aaron Burr; as it was he tied with Jefferson. The
matter was thrown into the House of Representatives, and Jefferson was
given the office, with Burr as Vice-President. Burr considered, and
perhaps rightly, that were it not for Hamilton's assertive influence he
would have been President of the United States.

While still Vice-President, Burr sought to become Governor of New York,
thinking this the surest road to receiving the nomination for the
Presidency at the next election.

Hamilton openly and bitterly opposed him, and the office went to another.

Burr considered, and rightly, that were it not for Hamilton's influence he
would have been Governor of New York.

Burr, smarting under the sting of this continual opposition by a man who
himself was shelved politically through his own too fiery ambition, sent a
note by his friend Van Ness to Hamilton, asking whether the language he
had used concerning him ("a dangerous man") referred to him politically or
personally.

Hamilton replied evasively, saying he could not recall all that he might
have said during fifteen years of public life. "Especially," he said in
his letter, "it can not be reasonably expected that I shall enter into any
explanation upon a basis so vague as you have adopted. I trust on more
reflection you will see the matter in the same light. If not, however, I
only regret the circumstances, and must abide the consequences."

When fighting men use fighting language they invite a challenge.
Hamilton's excessively poli