美國早期的歷史名人Aaron Burr
david chou
一
在美利堅合眾國早期的歷史中，有一個名人，他名叫Aaron Burr，他是美國史上赫赫有名的Jonathan Edwards(是型塑The First Great Awakening的關鍵性人物)的外孫，是美國第三任總統Thomas Jefferson第一個任期內的副總統，倘若他能對他的政治企圖心加以合理地控制，那他應該有可能得到總統的大位，但由於他個人及其他諸多外在的因素， 導致他與他的死敵Alexander Hamilton一樣，都成為美國歷史上的悲劇性人物，且都與總統大位無緣。
George Washington、Thomas Jefferson、Alexander Hamilton、John Adams、James Madison、Aaron Burr都是美國的Founding Fathers，革命、獨立、建國、制憲與建國之後的權力競逐與路線鬥爭給他們帶來各種聯合、鬥爭、恩怨、糾葛及仇恨(他們之間的互動寫下了極為精彩的美國歷史故事)，特別是由於一山不容二虎、最終導致以紐約為權力鬥爭基地的Alexander Hamilton與Aaron Burr(此二人早期是經常在一起聚餐與聚會的哥兒們)最後必須以決鬥來結束他們的仇恨，這場美國史上最有名的決鬥結束了Hamilton炫爛的一生，也毀了Burr的政治生命。
二
在今年五月中旬，台灣建州派的電子信箱收到兩封信(一封來自南部一位可敬的台獨前輩與大老)，內容如下:
建州派沒有對這兩封信加以直接答覆，因為建州派的領導層就如同有一雙法眼的George Washington，可以洞悉一些政治神棍與文宣薩哈夫所設下的騙局與所編織的謊言，我們以George Washington的法眼及Aaron Burr的騙局做為答覆，我們覺得那項答覆很有意義，因此特地加以些微修改，並在今天公開發表，以供台灣與台美鄉親參考。
建州派不期待有人隨便指涉或影射任何黨派，也不期待有任何黨派對號入座，我們只期待大家心領神會，若有人陷入騙局中，讀了本文，說不定會猛然覺醒，跳出政治神棍與薩哈夫合力打造的政治謊言與神話世界。
三
我們的故事要從George Washington如何看待Aaron Burr說起。
1775年，大英帝國美利堅殖民地的反英武裝鬥爭派在波士頓對英國的駐軍進行圍城戰，「第二屆大陸會議」任命華盛頓為殖民地武裝部隊的統帥，以對英國進行武裝鬥爭。
稍後不久，華盛頓將軍同意派出部隊北征加拿大，Burr加入遠征軍，雖然遠征加拿大的部隊戰事不利，傷亡無數，倉皇撤退，許多人還因饑餓而死，不過，Burr卻在那場戰役嶄露頭角，成為家喻戶曉的戰爭英雄，因此有戰功、年方20歲的他獲得推薦，到華盛頓統帥的紐約大本營擔任秘書的工作， 可是在大本營工作才六個星期(另有一說，他才工作兩個星期)的Burr卻很快對擔任秘書、為統帥寫信的工作感到厭煩，他辭去秘書的工作，回到前線，華盛頓麾下的Israel Putnam將軍收他為參謀。史書上說，華盛頓因Burr堅持辭職(另有一說，是Burr口不擇言，說了不少不該說的話，也說了不少觸怒統帥的話)，從此對Burr十分不滿，印象十分惡劣，Burr從此被華盛頓列入懲罰的黑名單。
紐約之役，華盛頓的部隊從長島一路潰退，並開始向紐澤西轉進，在這場轉進中，Burr又立下戰功。許多有戰功的人都得到統帥的表揚、敘勳與拔擢，但是說也奇怪，Burr的英勇與傑出卻沒有得到華盛頓的注意與肯定，Burr為此深感憤怒，從此與華盛頓十分疏離，不對盤。
1798 年，John Adams擔任總統時，美國與發生大革命的法國關係陷入緊張與準戰爭的狀態，卸任的華盛頓被Adams總統任命為美軍的General-in-Chief。Burr希望華盛頓任命他為准將，但他的請求被拒絕，相反地，受華盛頓寵信的Hamilton卻在Adams十分痛恨與不情願的情況下(許多革命戰爭時期的老將也感不解、不平與不滿)，被委以華盛頓副手的軍職。
華盛頓統帥的理由是: "By all that I have known and heard, Colonel Burr is a brave and able officer, but the question is whether he has not equal talents at intrigue." 換句話說，華盛頓認為Burr擅長搞陰謀，所以不值得信任與重用。在那個時候，華盛頓這麼說，是有可能受到Hamilton的影響，不過，華盛頓對 Burr的不信任可是由來已久，不像是受到Hamilton的影響，若從Burr在從副總統職位退下後一些背叛美國的作為看來，華盛頓的確是薑是老的辣， 他似乎具有一雙法眼，能一眼看穿與看透Burr。
常言道，「人非聖賢，孰能無過」? 包括從事政治工作的人在內，每個人都會犯錯，每個人 都以自我為中心，都為自己的利益設想與奮鬥，但是賢人與高明的人雖然無法達到無我與無私 (無我與無私是聖人才做得到，對芸芸眾生而言，是陳義過高，是唱高調) 的境界，但是卻可讓個人利益與群體利益重疊或合一，或者不把個人利益置於整體或群體的利益之上。
Aaron Burr的問題或者說他之所以出問題，根據美國史家Gordon S. Wood的說法，是Burr的"self-serving nature"違反了"disinterested politics"的理想 ("a government led by educated gentlemen who would fulfill their duties in a spirit of public virtue and without regard to personal interests or pursuits")，由於Burr具有"unprincipled ambition"，所以他的作為"leading to his personal and political defeats and, ultimately, to his place outside the golden circle of revered revolutionary figures"。
Burr因為缺乏他的政敵所認為的"the essential core of an Enlightenment gentlemen"，所以他最後成為叛國者，乃是理所當然，我們今天在台灣也看到一些說謊完全不會臉紅的政治神棍與薩哈夫，這些小丑都是Aaron Burr的翻版。
四
Aaron Burr到底幹了什麼事?他陰謀要武裝佔領阿列堅尼山脈以西的美國領地，做為他的獨立王國(首都是New Orleans)，然後侵略與佔領西班牙統治的「新西班牙」(包括今天的Texas、美國西部、美國西南部、佛羅裏達、墨西哥)，建立一個大帝國。
建州派今天要引述美國史家Henry Adams(John Adams的後人)的巨著"The Second Administration of Thomas Jefferson, Part I"的第10、11、12、13、14及19章("The First Administration of Thomas Jefferson"也提到Burr)。
When Burr ceased to be Vice-President of the United States, March 4, 1805, he had already made himself intimate with every element of conspiracy that could be drawn within his reach. The list of his connections might have startled Jefferson, if the President's easy optimism had not been proof to fears. In London, Burr's friend Colonel Williamson confided his plans to Pitt and Lord Melville. At Washington the British minister, Merry, wrote to Lord Mulgrave in support of Williamson's negotiation. The Creole deputies from New Orleans were Burr's friends, and Derbigny was acquainted with "certain projects" he entertained. General Wilkinson, governor of the Louisiana Territory, whose headquarters were at St. Louis, closely attached to Burr almost from childhood, stood ready for any scheme that promised to gratify inordinate ambition. James Brown, Secretary of the Territory, was Burr's creature. Judge Prevost, of the Superior Court at New Orleans, was Burr's stepson. Jonathan Dayton, whose term as senator ended the same day with Burr's vice-presidency, shared and perhaps suggested the "projects." John Smith, the senator from Ohio, was under the influence of Burr and Dayton. John Adair of Kentucky was in Wilkinson's confidence. The Swartwouts in New York, with the "little band" who made Burr their idol, stood ready to follow him wherever he might lead. In South Carolina Joseph Allston, the husband of Theodosia Burr, might be induced to aid his father-in-law; and Allston was supposed to be the richest planter in the South, worth a million of dollars in slaves and plantations. The task of uniting these influences and at a given moment raising the standard of a new empire in the Mississippi Valley seemed to an intriguer of Burr's metal not only feasible, but certain of success. (這裡提到一些人，這些人士是當年有頭有臉的美國菁英，雖是菁英，但Burr也都能欺騙他們，或者說，他們也不能免於被Burr欺騙。Dayton不久後發現Burr說謊，但還是與Burr狼狽為奸，一道欺騙其他同夥。)
Burr暗中與英國、西班牙的駐美使節聯繫，尋求該兩國的財政與軍事支持，在他的期待成為泡影之後，他為了讓他的政治生命能夠延續下去，他開始編織一連串的謊言，欺騙他的同夥。
"The conspiracy counted on the aid of Great Britain, which was to be the pivot of the scheme; but Burr's hopes were blasted by learning from Merry that no answer had been received from the British government in reply to the request for money and ships. ----- hope of aid from the British government had vanished." (註: Merry是英國派駐美國的使節Anthony Merry。)
"The death of Pitt destroyed all immediate possibility of drawing England into conspiracy with Burr, -- if indeed a possibility had ever existed. The attempt to obtain money from Spain was equally hopeless." (註: Pitt是英國首相William Pitt the Younger。)
在外援沒有來之後，"Burr was reduced to many devices in order to keep his conspiracy alive. ------Burr wrote to Wilkinson a letter evidently intended to conceal his diplomatic disaster and to deceive his friend."
"Conspiracy was easier than poverty; but conspiracy without foreign aid was too wild a scheme for other men to join. ----- In order to retain any friends or followers he was obliged to deceive them all, and entangle himself and them in an elaborate of falsehood. Dayton alone knew the truth, and helped him to deceive." (Burr的陰謀與計劃因為缺乏外援，所以對同夥與其他人而言，都只是瘋狂的冒險，為了讓那些同夥與追隨者不要跑掉，Burr必須欺騙他們，他開始編織一套精心設計的謊言，來自欺欺人，只有Dayton知道真相，他幫助Burr來欺騙其他人。)
"---- impudence had become their (註: 指Burr與Dayton兩人) only resource. Every step taken thenceforward by the conspirators (註: 指Burr與Dayton兩人) was taken by means of a new imposture; until at last they became petty swindlers who lived from day to day by cheating each other. How flagrant their imposture was, has been partly shown in their attempt to deceive Yrujo; but their treatment of Wilkinson was far more dishonest." (註: 因為英國、西班牙的外援不來，Burr與Dayton只好不斷欺騙他們的同夥與他人，他們每天忙著編織謊言，互相欺騙，他們的騙術翻陳出新，欲罷不能，令人目不暇給，他們吃了熊心豹子膽，連Wilkinson及西班牙的使節Marques de Casa Yrujo都敢騙。)
(Burr在5/13/1806發給Wilkinson、Wilkinson於7/29/1806收到的一封密碼信函中，謊話連篇，宣稱形勢大好，但做為美國領地軍區司令的Wilkinson豈是沒有資訊可做判斷依據的等閒之輩?)
"He (註: 指律師Harman Blennerhasset) confided in his gardener, ----- Peter Taylor, that Colonel Burr would be king of Mexico, ---- He added that Burr had a great many friends in the Spanish territory; two thousand Roman Catholic priests were enlisted in his corps; ----- that the Spaniards, like the French, had got tired of their government and wanted to swap it; that the British were also friends to this expedition ----" (註: 在Burr的騙局中，受害最大的可能是出錢出力不少、期待在Burr的陰謀成功後可以被國王Burr封為公爵、並將有豐厚收入的受騙者 Blennerhasset，Burr因為外援沒來，所以設計很多騙錢與搞錢的點子，讓Blennerhasset這些缺乏判斷力的人提供政治獻金，從 Blennerhasset的園丁這些證人在法庭的供詞中，我們可以知道Burr這種政治神棍的厲害與受害者的無知與貪婪，也可以知道Burr編織了許多外援及革命形勢大好的謊言。)
"Burr was engaged in deceiving every one; but his attempt to deceive Yrujo, if seriously meant, was the least comprehensible of all his manoeuvres."
五
當台灣與台美鄉親們讀了以上這些精彩的片段，大家就會恍然大悟，原來歷史會重演，也正在重演，包括在台灣重演。
政治神棍與薩哈夫層出不窮，但「喬治華盛頓」卻是「稀有動物」，只有「喬治華盛頓」才能一眼洞悉政治神棍與薩哈夫的陰謀與拆穿政治神棍與薩哈夫的騙局與把戲。
「台灣建州運動」發起人周威霖
David C. Chou
Founder, Formosa Statehood Movement
(an organization devoted to making Taiwan a state of the United States)
再談美國立國早期的政治神棍Aaron Burr (7/25/2011補述與發表)
「台灣建州運動」於6/22/2011發表「George Washington的法眼可以一眼看透政治神棍Aaron Burr」一文(我們把它重貼在下面)，我們今天順著那篇文章，接著做一點補充。
我們今天的補充資料來自美國史家Henry Adams的名著 "The Second Administration of Thomas Jefferson"第二冊的第十九章，標題是 "Burr's Trial"。
Chapter 19: Burr's Trial(審判Aaron Burr)
這一章第一段的部分內容是:
-------The Democrats (註: 在傑佛遜總統執政時期的美國的Democrats，分佈於當時美國東北部、東部及西部，與Jefferson-Madison結盟，他們與南方的 Republicans結盟，成為Jefferson-Madison執政團隊的主要支持基礎) had never been able to persuade themselves that the Union was really in danger, or that Burr's projects, whatever they were, had a chance of success; and in truth Burr's conspiracy, like that of Pickering and Griswold, had no deep roots in society, but was mostly confined to a circle of well-born, well-bred, and well-educated individuals, whose want of moral sense was one more proof that the moral instinct had little to do with social distinctions. (Aaron Burr圖謀分裂美國西部、建立一個帝國的計劃，在沒有得到英國與西班牙的支持之後，仍然以欺騙支持者及金主的方式繼續運作，他雖然隱瞞真相，繼續欺騙支持者與金主，但Democrats並不認為他有成功的機會，因為他的圖謀並不具社會的基礎，他的支持者只限於一個很小的圈子中，那一小撮人出身好的家庭， 受到良好的教育(註: 被政治神棍欺騙的人並非只是一般民眾，連受過高等教育的人也會受騙，他們之所以會受騙，多半是由於他們在那個政治騙局中，有特殊或不可告人的考量，或者他們與政治神棍有平行的利益)。
These comments were sharp, yet the pages of Blennerhassett's diary were not so severe upon any of the witnesses for the government as they were upon Burr himself. Blennerhassett had wakened to the discovery that Burr was, after all, but a vulgar swindler. (在Aaron Burr的陰謀詐騙中受害極深、財產都因而失去的人是Blennerhassett，到頭來他發現Burr只是一個粗鄙的騙子。)--------the ruin which had fallen on Blennerhassett's property at the island,—taught the Irishman how thoroughly he had been duped:
"The present trial cannot fail to furnish ample testimony, if not to the guilt, at least to the defect of every talent under the assumption of which this giddy adventurer has seduced so many followers of riper experience and better judgment than myself." (Blennerhassett在Burr受審時發現，被Burr誘騙的人士中，有不少人比他具有較成熟的經驗及較好的判斷力。註: 政治神棍通常具有誘騙有豐富的社會經驗及良好判斷力的人士的邪惡天份，即便連總統或當過總統的人都可能會被他們蒙騙與誤導，更何況是一般民眾。)
在我們的補述發表了大約兩個月後，我們把文章的英文摘要寄給一些美國人參考，包括AIT與國務院的官員，讓他們更好地瞭解台灣這個利用美國詐騙、損壞美國形象、要把美國拖下水的政治金光黨。
我們在信函的開頭說: 這幾年來，台灣有一個林XX小黨派，自組一個所謂「台灣X政府」(Taiwan ...... Government)的荒唐組織，他們在自營的網站上及其他地方公開宣稱他們的「政府」與他們的「駐美辦事處」受到美國政府的「認可」，他們不斷編織謊言，並宣稱由於美國政府從來沒有出面否定他們的說法，那就表示他們的說法得到美國政府的「默許」或「贊同」，他們不斷編造謊言，許多台灣人與台美人都信以為真，這些被他們欺騙的台灣人與台美人包括受高等教育的菁英份子。