Note 1180 — Chapter IX
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At this time Jefferson wrote curious letters, apparently to explain, by inference, to his friends in France his want of energy in the Chesapeake affair and the vigor he displayed in the prosecution of Burr. "Burr's conspiracy has been one of the most flagitious of which history will ever furnish an example.... Yet altho' there is not a man in the U S who is not satisfied of the depth of his guilt, such are the jealous provisions of our laws in favor of the accused, ... that I question if he can be convicted." (Jefferson to Du Pont de Nemours, July 14, 1807, Works: Ford, x, 461; also see same to Lafayette, same date, ib. 463.) It will be observed that in these letters Jefferson condemns the laxity of American laws instead of blaming Marshall.