azard of new
fortunes in 1804 by offering himself as candidate for Governor of New
York, an office then held by George Clinton. Early in the year he had a
remarkable interview with Jefferson in which he observed that it was
for the interest of the party for him to retire, but that his retirement
under existing circumstances would be thought discreditable. He asked
"some mark of favor from me," Jefferson wrote in his journal, "which
would declare to the world that he retired with my confidence"--an
executive appointment, in short. This was tantamount to an offer of
peace or war. Jefferson declined to gratify him, and Burr then began an
intrigue with the Federalist leaders of New England.

The rise of a Republican party of challenging strength in New England
cast Federalist leaders into the deepest gloom. Already troubled by the
annexation of Louisiana, which seemed to them to imperil the ascendancy
of New England in the Union, they now saw their own ascendancy in New
England imperiled. Under the depression of impending disaster, men
like Senator Timothy Pickering of Massachusetts and Roger Griswold of
Connecticut broached to their New England friends the possibility of a
withdrawal from the Union and the formation of a Northern Confederacy.
As the confederacy shaped itself in Pickering's imagination, it would
of necessity include New York; and the chaotic conditions in New York
politics at this time invited intrigue. When, therefore, a group of
Burr's friends in the Legislature named him as their candidate for
Governor, Pickering and Griswold seized the moment to approach him with
their treasonable plans. They gave him to understand that as Governor of
New York he would naturally hold a strategic position and could, if he
would, take the lead in the secession of the Northern States. Federalist
support could be given to him in the approaching election. They would
be glad to know his views. But the shifty Burr would not commit himself
further than to promise a satisfactory administration. Though the
Federalist intriguers would have been glad of more explicit assurances
they counted on his vengeful temper and hatred of the Virginia
domination at Washington to make him a pliable tool. They were willing
to commit the party openly to Burr and trust to events to bind him to
their cause.

Against this mad intrigue one clear-headed individual resolutely set
himself--not wholly from disinterested motives. Alexander Hamilton had