Page:The Burr-Hamilton duel with correspondence.djvu/25

 states among other things that in General Hamilton's opinion Col. Burr has taken a very indefinite ground in which he evinces nothing short of predetermined hostility, and that General Hamilton thinks it inadmissible that the enquiry should extend to his confidential as well as other conversations. In this Col. Burr can only reply that secret whispers traducing his fame and impeaching his honor are, at least, equally injurious with slanders publicly uttered. That Gen. Hamilton had at no time and in no place a right to use any such injurious expressions; and that the partial negative he is disposed to give, with the reservations he wishes to make, are proofs that he has done the injury specified.

Col. Burr's request was in the first instance proposed in a form the most simple, in order that Gen. Hamilton might give to the affair that course to which he might be induced by his temper and his knowledge of the facts. Col. Burr trusted with confidence, that from the frankness of a soldier and the candour of a gentleman he might expect an ingenuous