Both Hamilton and Burr were effective speakers; but, while Hamilton was wordy and diffuse, Burr spoke always to the point, with clear and cogent reasoning.  Both were lavish spenders of money, and both were engaged in duels before the fatal one in which Hamilton fell.  Both believed in dueling as the only way of settling an affair of honor.  Neither of them was averse to love affairs, though it may be said that Hamilton sought women, while Burr was rather sought by women.  When Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was obliged to confess an adulterous amour in order to save himself from the charge of corrupt practices in public office.  So long as Burr’s wife lived he was a devoted, faithful husband to her.  Hamilton was obliged to confess his illicit acts while his wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Schuyler, was living.  She spent her later years in buying and destroying the compromising documents which her husband had published for his countrymen to read.

The most extraordinary thing about Aaron Burr was the magnetic quality that was felt by every one who approached him.  The roots of this penetrated down into a deep vitality.  He was always young, always alert, polished in manner, courageous with that sort of courage which does not even recognize the presence of danger, charming in conversation, and able to adapt it to men or women of any age whatever.  His hair was still dark in his eightieth year.  His step was still elastic, his motions were still as spontaneous and energetic, as those of a youth.

So it was that every one who knew him experienced his fascination.  The rough troops whom he led through the Canadian swamps felt the iron hand of his discipline; yet they were devoted to him, since he shared all their toils, faced all their dangers, and ate with them the scraps of hide which they gnawed to keep the breath of life in their shrunken bodies.

Burr’s discipline was indeed very strict, so that at first raw recruits rebelled against it.  On one occasion the men of an untrained company resented it so bitterly that they decided to shoot Colonel Burr as he paraded them for roll-call that evening.  Burr somehow got word of it and contrived to have all the cartridges drawn from their muskets.  When the time for the roll-call came one of the malcontents leaped from the front line and leveled his weapon at Burr.

“Now is the time, boys!” he shouted.

Like lightning Burr’s sword flashed from its scabbard with such a vigorous stroke as to cut the man’s arm completely off and partly to cleave the musket.

“Take your place in the ranks,” said Burr.

The mutineer obeyed, dripping with blood.  A month later every man in that company was devoted to his commander.  They had learned that discipline was the surest source of safety.

But with this high spirit and readiness to fight Burr had a most pleasing way of meeting every one who came to him.  When he was arrested in the Western forests, charged with high treason, the sound of his voice won from jury after jury verdicts of acquittal.  Often the sheriffs would not arrest him.  One grand jury not merely exonerated him from all public misdemeanors, but brought in a strong presentment against the officers of the government for molesting him.