By this purchase, which Jefferson had much at heart, the United States secured, not only millions of square miles of territory, but the control of the Gulf of Mexico.  This fortunate acquisition prevented those entangling disputes and hostilities which would have taken place whether Spain or France owned Louisiana.  Doubtless, Jefferson laid himself open to censure from the Federalists for assuming unconstitutional powers in this purchase; but the greatness of the service more than balanced the irregularity, and the ridicule and abuse from his political enemies fell harmless.  No one can question that his prompt action, whether technically legal or illegal, was both wise and necessary; it practically gave to the United States the undisputed possession of the vast territory between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains.  Moreover, the President’s enlightened encouragement of the explorations of Lewis and Clarke’s expedition across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, led to the ultimate occupancy of California and the west coast itself.

The next event of national interest connected with the administration of Jefferson in his long term of eight years (for he was re-elected president, and began his second term in 1805), was the enterprise of Aaron Burr, with a view of establishing a monarchy in Mexico.  It was fortunately defeated, and the disappointed and ambitious politician narrowly escaped being convicted of high treason.  He was saved only by the unaccountable intrigues of the Federalists at a time of intense party warfare.  Jefferson would have punished this unscrupulous intriguer if he could; but Burr was defended by counsel of extraordinary ability,—­chiefly Federalist lawyers, at the head of whom was Luther Martin of Maryland, probably the best lawyer in the country, notwithstanding his dissipated habits.  Martin was one of those few drinking men whose brains are not clouded by liquor.  He could argue a case after having drunk brandy enough to intoxicate any ordinary man, and be the brighter for it.  Burr also brought to bear the resources of his own extraordinary intellect, by way of quiet suggestions to his counsel.

This remarkable man was born at Newark, N.J., in 1756, and was the son of the Rev. Aaron Burr, president of Princeton College.  He was a grandson of the celebrated Jonathan Edwards, the most original and powerful metaphysical intellect known to the religious history of this country, who confirmed Calvinism as the creed of New England Puritans.  The young Burr, on the death of his father and grandfather, inherited what was then considered as a fortune, and was graduated at Princeton in 1772, with no enviable reputation, being noted for his idleness and habits bordering on dissipation.  He was a handsome and sprightly young man of sixteen, a favorite with women of all ages.  He made choice of the profession of law, and commenced the study under Tappan Reeve of Elizabethtown.  After the battle of Bunker Hill he entered the army