Apparently Hamilton called Burr a “Catiline” and ”Savius” and I'm confused as to why that's a big deal. Can you please help me out?
Ah, Hamilton and his classical references. “Catiline” was a figure from Roman history famously involved in a conspiracy to overthrow the Roman Republic; thus, hardly a flattering allusion for Hamilton to make. By referring to Burr as a “Catiline,” Hamilton implied Burr was power hungry and a threat to America’s new republican government. For example, in December 1800, Hamilton wrote to Oliver Wolcott of Burr: “ Every step in his career proves that he has formed himself upon the model of Catiline, and he is too coldblooded and too determined a conspirator ever to change his plan.” In a confidential letter to John Rutledge, Jr. on 4 January 1801, Hamilton wrote:
Mr. Burr will doubtless be governed by his interest as he views it. But stable power and Wealth being his objects—and there being no prospect that the respectable and sober fœderalists will countenance the projects of an irregular Ambition or prodigal Cupidity, he will not long lean upon them—but selecting from among them men suited to his purpose he will seek with the aid of those and of the most unprincipled of the opposite party to accomplish his ends. At least such ought to be our calculation. From such a man as him, who practices all the maxims of a Catiline, who, while despising, has played the whole game of, democracy, what better is to be looked for. Tis not to a Chapter of Accidents, that we ought to trust the Government peace and happiness of our Country. Tis enough for us to know that Mr. Burr is one of the most unprincipled men in the UStates in order to determine us to decline being responsible for the precarious issues of his calculations of Interest. [Emphasis added].
The reference to “Savius” is harder to understand. The only time Hamilton uses “Savius” is in a 1792 letter to Gouverneur Morris, in which Hamilton is coming up with a list of names to use in place of famous political figures so that the two could engage in private correspondence without fear of their letters being intercepted and published. After listing all the names, Hamilton added, “You see, I have avoided characteristic Names.”
Several popular historians have theorized that Hamilton meant to refer to Plautus Saevius, an obscure figure who was accused of having corrupted and defiled his own son and then committed suicide before his trial. However, Ron Chernow has said he consulted with three Princeton Classicists who didn’t think that was correct (Chernow, Alexander Hamilton, p.737). There was a Savius involved in the assassination of Pompey, but that likely wasn’t who Hamilton meant, either. All we know for certain is Hamilton meant to pick an obscure name to disguise he was discussing Burr, and he very much succeeded. (I’d also wager whoever he meant to evoke, though, it wasn’t meant to be flattering for Burr.)
