CHAPTER XI.

THE NEW YORK  POLITICIAN.

This Sapidity of his Eisb in Politics—Member op the State LEGiSLATrBK—
Opposes the Meohanics' Bill—Votes foe the Abolition of Slavery — Pab-

TIES AFTEK THB PbAOE—ThE GuBAT FAMILIES OF THB  StATE—" BuRR'S MtEMIDOKS"

—The Eatification of tub Constitution—Burr's Early Movements in Politics
— Appointed Attornby-Gbnbkal of the State — His Ebport on the Eevolu-
TioNAEY Claims — Sale op the State Lands—Elected to the Senate op thb
United States.

Colonel Buee's rise to eminence in the political world
was more rapid than that of any other man who has played a
conspicuous part in the affairs of the United States. Over the
heads of tried and able politicians, in a State where leading
families had, for a century, nearly monopolized the offices of
honor and emolument, he was advanced, in four years after
fairly entering the political arena, from a private station, first
to the highest honor of the bar, next, to a seat in the national
councils, and then, to a competition with Washington, Adams,
Jefferson, and Clinton for the presidency itself This point
he reached when he was but thirty-six years of age, without
having originated any political idea or measure, without being
fully committed to either of the two leading parties.

To his cotemporaries, no less than to recent writers of
political history, the suddenness of his elevation w^as an enig¬
ma. John Adams thought it was owing to the prestige of
his father's and grandfather's name. Hamilton attributed it
to Burr's unequaled wire-pulling. Some thought it was his
military reputation. Others called it luck. His own circle
of friends regarded his elevation as the legitimate result of a
superiority to most of his rivals in knowledge, culture, and
talents. / No doubt all of these were causes of his success.
Perhaps some of the mystery will vanish before a concise
statement of his political career.