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WASHINGTON CITY, Janaary z 3.
MESSAGE
OP THE
PRESIDENT
OF THE
UNITED STATES,
Containing a atVELorcMCNT of the
‘ CONSPIRACY.
To the Senate and Houft of Reprefentativet
of the United Slates,
Avmrably to the report of the Houfr of
Reprt.fht^talives, communicated in their re
solution of the i6:h inti. I proceed to date
under the t&CatVK therci •. exptefled, informa
tion received touching an illegal combina
tion of private individuals agaioft the peace
and fafety of the union, and a military ex
pediti m planned by them against the rer.
riiorlti of a poa er in amity with the United
States, with the mcafa.cs 1 have purfacd
/ for fupor effing in* faint.
1 had, for fame tioie, been In the enp
ft ant exptftaion of receiving fuels further
1 information as would have enabled me to
. J.iy before the Irgi fixture the termination,
w a* (veil at the hegtning mid progress cf this
\ kenc of depravity, so far as it has been
j aClod on the Ohio and its waters. From
A thk the ftaic o: (dety of the lower country
might have been tuiuutul on probable
fp grounds, and the delay was indulged the
ra’hcr, breaufe no circumflancc had yet \
\ made it necessary to call in the aid of the
/ legifl itive funtiions. Information now rc
t cently communicated, has brought us near
£ ly to the peri. 4 contemplated. The imfs
Ts- of whit 1 have received in tht ronrfe of
j# thefc tranfaCtions is voiominous : but little
'has Uen given under the (auction of an oath,
To as to con.tiiute formal and legal evidence.
It is chiefly in the form of letters, ofltn
containing such a nvixiure of rumours, con.
jeftores, a» render it difficult to fi(t out
the real fafts, and unadvifcablc to hazard
more than general olatUnes, ftreng:hened by
concurrent information, or the particular
credibility of the relator. In this state of
ihe evidence, delivered foraetimea too, un
der the reilrktion of private confidence,
neither fafety nor juiticc will permit the
exposing names, except that of the principal
utter, whole guilt is placed beyond quef.
lion.
Some time in the latter part of September,
1 received informations that designs were
in agitation in the Weftern country, un
friendly to the peace cf the union : and
that the prime mover in thefc was Anr. n
Harr, heretofore by the favor
of his country. Thp grounds of these in
timation* being incotlclufivc, the objetls
uncsttain, and the fidelity of that country
known to be firm, the only mcafurc tiken
was to urge tVt informants to use their
heft endeavors to g*t further insight into
lh* designs and proceedings of the fufpecHcd
petfons, and to communicate them to me.
It was not,till the darter part of Ottobcr
that the ohjefts of the conspiracy began to
be perceived, but Hill so blended and invol.
red in mystery that nothing d blind could
be singled out for pursuit. In this flue rs
uncertainty, as to the crime contemplated,
the ads done, and the legal courfc to be
parfued, I thought it bed to fend to the
feene, where thefc things were principally
ia tranfaCtion, a petfon in whole integrity,
rudcift m.ling and diferction, entire con
fidence could be rtpofed, with infiru.tions
to investigate the plots g. ir.g on, to enter
into conference (or which he had fufficient
credmtiah) with the governors, and ail
other officers, civil and military, and with
their aid, to do on the (pot whatever Ihould
b« necessary to difeover the designs of the
conspirators, arreit iheir meant, bring their
pet funs to punilhrnent, axd to call out the
force of the country to suppress any unlaw,
ful enterprise,, in which, it (hould be found
they were ertgaged. By this time it was
known that many boats were under pre
paration, ftore* of provifiois cohering,
and an unusual number of suspicious charac
ters in moti >a on the Ohio, and its waters.
BTides di(patching the confidential agent
to that quarter, orders were at the fame
time sent to the governors of th« O. leans
and Mufiffppi territories, and to the com.
outliers of th* land ami naval forces there,
lo be on their guard against forprize, and
in constant readtoefs to refill any enterpriac
which might be attempted on the vcfftls,
posts or other objects under their care : and
on the Svh of November, iuffrutUons were
forwarded to Gen. Wilkiofon to h alien an
accommodation with the Spanish comman
dant on the Sabine, and, as soon as that
was effected, to tall back with his principal
force to the hither bank of the Mifliflippi, ;
for the defence of the interesting points on
that river. By a letter received from that
officer of the 25 ‘h of November but dated
Oftobcr 21st, we learnt that a cohfidenral
agent of Anron Burr had been deputed to
him with communications, partly written
in cypher, and partly or-r, explaining his ;
designs, exaggerating his resources, and 1
making such offers of emolument and coir, j
mand, to engage hrai and the a* my in his
unlawful enterprise} as he bad flittered
himfelf would be focccfsful. Ihe General,
with ihs honor of a foldicr, ana fidelity ot
a good citizen, immediately difparchcd a
trufly officer to me with information of
what had ptfl'cd, proceeded .to eltablifh
A f.jch an underflandiag with the Spanish com.
V mand an ton the Sabine as permuted him to
withdraw his force across the Miffilltppi,
and to enter on msalutes for oppoliug the
taurptixe.
The general's letter which crate to band
on the 25 th of November, as has been iccn.
tioned, and feme other information, re.
reived a few days earlier, when brought
together, developed Burr's general deftgnv,
different parts of which only had been re
vealed to different informants. It appeared
that he contemplated two diftinrt nbjedh,
which might he carrrtd on either jointly or
fcparate'.j', and cither the one or the other
firft as circumftanccs should dirert, One
of these was the fovetarree of the anion of
these states by the AMcgany the
other arf attack on Mekitft A third objell
was provided, merely-ostensible, to wit,
the rcttlcmcnt of the pretended purchase of
a trart of country bn tWi Wafhita, claimed
by a baron Baftrop. This was to serve as
the pretext for nil his preparations, an al
lurement for fitch followers as really wished
toarqui-o fettiemenrs, in that country and
a cover under which to retreat in the event
of a final difcomfuurc of both branches of
his real dodge.
He (burnt at Cnee the attachment of the
weftem country to the present union was not
to be fhiiktn ; that its diffolutiot could not *
beeflvrted with the confcnt ofits inhabitants;
and that his rcfoorccs were inadequate, as yet,
to effort it by force. He took his rnutfe then
at once, determined tofeizeon New-Orleans,
plunder the bank there, pt-flof* himfelf of the
military and naval (fores, undproceed on his
expedition to Mexico, and to this object all
his means and preparations were now dirert.
ed. He collertcd from all the quarrers where
himfelf, or hi* agents pofltficd influence, all
the ardent refilefs, dcfptrate and dtf. fferted
persons who were ready foranyenterprize an
alogous to their characters. H* seduced good
aad well meaning citizens, some by afforanees
that h»‘ pofli fl'cd the confidence of the govern
ment, and was acting under.its fecrct patron,
age ; a pretence which procured some credit
from the stare of oar differences with Spain ;
and others by offers ofland in Baftrop’a claim
on the Wafhita.
This was the state cf my information of hi*
proceedings about the last cf November; at
which time threforcit was firtt pcffible to take
fpccific mcafurcs to meet them. The prccla.
mation of November 27, two days after the
receipt of General Wilkinson's information,
was now illucd. Orders were difpatchrd to
every intcrcfling point on the Ohio and Mis.
ififtippi, from Pmfburg toKew.Orleans, for '
the employment of such force, either of the
regulars or of the militia, and of such pro.
ccedings also of the civil authorities, as
might enable then to seize on ail boats and
(tores provided for the enter prize, to arrest
the persons concerned, and to fopprefs effec
tually tht further progress of the enterprize.
A little before the receipt of these orders in
the Rate of Ohio, our confidential agent,
w ho had b«cn diligently employed in invefii
gating the conspiracy, had acquired fcCcient
information to open hirijfelf hv the Govern,
or of that state, and to apply for the imme.
mate exertion of the authority and power pf f
the state tocrulh the combination. Govern
or T.ffin and the legiilafure,' with a promp
titude, an energy and patriotic zeal, which
entitle them to a diftirigmfhed place in the
affertton of their filler states, tfferted tha
seizure of all the boats, provifiuns and other
preparations within their reach, and th«»
gave a fxrll blow, materially disabling the
enterprize in its ouifct.
In Kentucky a premature attempt to bring
Burr to justice, without fofficient evidence
for his convirtion, had produced a popular
impression in his favor, and a general dis.
belief of his guilt. Thjs gave him an un.
fortunate opportunity of battening his equip,
ments. The arrival of the proclamation and
orders, and the application and information
of our confidential agent, at length awake,
tied the authorities of that state to the truth,
and then produced the fame promptitude and
energy of which the neighboring state had
fc: the example. Under an art of their le.
giflature of December 2}, militia was in.
ftantly ordered todiff'ereni important points,
and mcafures taken for doing whatever could
yet done. Some boats (accounts vary
front five to double or treble that number}
and persons (differently estimated from one
to thiee hundred) had in the mean time paf
(td the falls of Ohio to reudevouz at the
mouth of Cumberland, with others expelled
down that river. Not apprised till very late
that any boats were building on Cumberland,
the effort of the proclamation had been trnft.
cd 10 for some lime in the state of Tcnneffcc.
Bat oh the 19th of December fimiiar commu
nications and inllrurtions, with ihofe to the
neighboring state;, were difpatchfd *y ex
press to the Governor and a general officer
0? th : weftern divilfon of the state, and on
the 23 I of December, our confidential agent
loft Frankfort Ur Nafhvillc to put into ac
| tivity the m.ans of that state also. But by
infoiinadou rceciv.d yqftsrday, 1 learn that
on the 2ad of December Mr. Barr defeend.
ed the Cumberland with two boats, merely
of accommodation, carrying with him from
that ftaic no quota towards his unlawful en
terprise. Whether after the arrival of the
| proclamation, of the orders, or cf cur a.
i gent, any Ckerticn which coaid be made by
j that state, or the orderslof the Governor of
Kentucky tor calling oat the militia at the
mouth of Cumberland, von d bo in time to
; arrest these boars, and fhofcfrom tho falls of
Ohio, is still doubtful.-
Ou the whole the fugitives from the Ohio,
with their affociaus trim Cumberland, or
any other place in that quarter, cannot
threaten fsrious danger to the city of New.
Orleans.
By the fame cxp.-cls of December ip, or .
ders were Tent to the Governors of Orleans
and Milulfippi, fupplcmentary to thofc which
had been given on the zjih cc November,
to bold th* militia of their territories in rea
dings to co-operate for their defence with
the regular tropps and armed velfrls then
under command of General Wilkinfoa,
Great alarm indeed was excited at Ncw-Or
leans by the exaggerated accounts of Mr.
£urr f disseminated through bis emmiffaries,
of the armies and navies he was to afferoolc
there. General Wilkirfon had arrived there
himfelfcn the 24th cf November, ard had
immedia-ely pot into activity the resources
of the place for the parpofe of its defence,
and on the 10th of December he was joined
by his troop* from the Sabine. Great zeal
was by the inhabitants generally ;
the merchants of the place readily agreeing
to the mod laudable exertions and facrifice*
for manning the armed vtfTels with their
Teamen ; and the other citizens manifefting
unequivocal fidelity, to the union, and a fpi.
rit of determined refinance to their expeCicd
sffaiiantr.
Surmises have been hazarded that this
interpret is to receive aid from certain fo
reign powers. But these furtnifes are with.
k our proof or probability. The wisdom of
the treafoics functioned by Corgiefs at its
lad ft Cion, has placed us in the paths of
pcrce and jufiice with the only powers with
whom wc had ary difference*; and nothing
ks s happened finer, which makes it either
| their tnterefi or curs to purfu'e another ccorfc.
Is* chat get! meafurcs l as taker, plate rnn»
part, nwrecught to uke piste at this time.
With the err, friendly anangcnicnt vas
proj'ofed, and the law, deemed r.cceffary on
the* failure of that, was fufpcndtd 10 give
lice lor a fair trial of the iflke. With the
fame power, friendly arrangement is row
proceeding, under good expectation*, ard
the fame law, deemed ncccffary on failure of
ihar, is still Aifpcnded to give lime for a
l lair trial cf the rffue. "With the other rrgo.
clarion was in like manner pitfencd, and
provifioual rrcafuies only taken to meet the
event of rupture. While therefore wc do
not dtffcCl in the flightefi degree from the
ccurfe we then tffurced, and are fiillpurfu
ing, with mutual cc nfent, to re Here a good
urderftanding, we are not to impute to them
practices as irreccncileable to interest as to
good faith, and char ging ncctffariiy th* re.
lavtens of peace fpd jufiice between us to
those of war. The farrnifes are therefore to
1 be imputed to the vaunting* of the anther
of this enterprise, to multiply his parti,
zvirs, by magnifying the belief of his prof.
peCts and fuppert.
By letter* from General Wilkinfou cf the
i4'h and 1 S h December, which come to
band two da) s alter the date cf the reiol*.
ticn of the Houle of Rcprefer.tatives, that
is to fay, cn the morning of the iSibir.ft.
I received the important affidavit, a copy
cf which 1 now communicate, w ith cxtraCfs
offo much of the letters as cotr.cs within the
feppe of the rcfolution. By these it will Ire
ften that of three of the principal erciflSries
of Mi. Burr, whom the General had canfed
to he apprehended, one hrd been liberated
by Habeas Corpus, and tw* others, being
those particularly employ ed in the endeavor
tocorrupt the Generalfc array of the United
States, have been embarked by him for ports
in the Atlantic States, probably cn the con.
fuerarion that an impartial trial could nut
be cxpcOcd during the prefect agitations
of Mew.Orlcans, and that that city was
not as yet a Case place of eor.fincmcnt. As
soon as thele persons (hall arrive, they will
b« delivered to thccuitody of the law, and
left to such ccatfc of trial, both as to place
and proccfs, as its functionaries may dire Cf.
The presence ofthebigheft judicial authori.
ties, to be affemhlcd at this place within a
few days, the means of pursuing a founder
coatfe of proceedings here than clfewherr,
and the aid of the Executive meant, fbouki
the jndges have: occasion to ufc them, lender
it equally deferable for the criminal, as for
the public, that, being already removed
from the place where they were fit ft appre.
bended, the ftrft regular arrest ihuuld uke
place here, and the coutfe of proceeding re
ceive here their proper direction.
TH: JEFFERSON.
yauaarj 2a, 1807.
ExtrmJt »f * ittttrfrtm gtn. Jams Wilk\i+
J«n, dated Ncw-Or/e*HS % Dec. Z 4 i 806.
“ After feveial consultations with the
governor and judges, touching the «rreft and
confinement of certain known agents and
eiiuffaries of C*l. Buir, is this city and
territory, whose intrigues and machinations
were to be apprehended, it is with their
privity and approbation that 1 have caused
I three of them to be arrefiiJ, viz. DoAor
Errick Bollman, Samuel Swartwout, and
Peter V, Ogden, against whom 1 pofltfs
ffrong fads., and I have recommended to
the governor to have James Alexander, Esq.
taken up on the grounds of Urong fufpiciou.
. These persons and all others, who, by their
charadcr and depoitmcnt may be considered
h*ftile to the interests of the U. States, or
dangerous to this feeble frontier, under the
menacing afped of things from above, will,
if my influence can prevail, be seized and
Tent by fca to the U. .States fubjcCt to the
difpofiiion of government, and accompanied
by such information as may jufiify their
confinement, and furniih a clue to the deve.
lopement of the grounds, pregrrfs and pro.
jcCiorsofthe t tea ion able emerpiize in which
they are engaged. ,
t“ This letter will accompany Dodor
Bollman, who is to be this day embarked
in a veflel bound for Charlefion, under th e
charge of licut. Wilfoo of the artillery, who
has orders to land with his prisoner, at Fort
Johnston, or Fort Moultre, to forward ibis
dispatch by mail and to wait the orders of
the executive. Mr. Swartwoet will fee
Tent to Baltimore by a vessel which wHI .
' fail fooie tin*: the sniuirg week in Custody
of another subaltern, who will be the bearer
of (hong teftitnony against him and also col.
lurr, and the others will follow under due
precautions, by the carlieft opportunities
which may prefenr.
“ I deem it effcntial to keep thefc prison
ers apart, to prevent the adjoftment of eor
rcfpondctit answers or confrffions, to any
examination which may iflVc, and I hope
the meafurci of tho execotivo may he so
prompt and efficient, as to relieve the officers
in charge of them from their troft, before
the imerpofuion of the friends of the pri-
Toners may effeft their liberation.
•< By this procedure we may intifrida'e
the confederates, who ate urqutftionahly
numerous in this ; as well as the adjacent ter.
ritory, difcor.ccrt their arrangements, and
pcfiibly deftrr y their intrigues, and I hepe
the zeal which dirtAi the mcafure may be
juftified and approved, for whilst the glow
of pntriotifm rlfuates my ccndtdl, and 1 am
willing to tfhi,n>Telf a martyr to the eon
ftitutian cl ray country, 1-lhculd indeed he
most grieveaily difappoimed did I incur its
ccrfnie.
“ Here, Sir, we find the key to thewaf.
tern dates, and here we mud form one £raad
depository and pbee ot arms—combine to
this difpcfi:s;n a river leer competent to
its cede Hob and pod it thirty «r forty
leagues sieve the Yazcu river, erd we may
rvj ofc in fccurity ; for the difcoistant and
fitFcrirgs cl cor ii.fargent citizens which
mutt immediately rnfuc, will fcon open thtir
eyes to the cfs of th.dr leaders and
wotk a radical rdcrmaticß without bicod
stud. Tlii* is tny plan for rtfiflirg an in
tcmal atictk-'—for,.external dcttrcc, gun
boats end hetub-ketches wiih ficatitg bat
teries at the mouths cf the Mississippi and
the passes from Like Pcnckamain wi|l be
r.eceffar J.
Ext rail of m Utter from gen. James Will in
fen, dated JSenu.Orleans, Dec, 18 iSc6.
Six, since my last of the 14‘h it ftanr,
writs cl habeas corpus have been idled f at
the bodies of Bellman, Swan went at d Cg.
den, the two latter by judge Workmen,
uho is fttongly fufptdlrd (or tcing conrcc
ted with Burr and his ccnfpiracy, as 1 hate
proof this tnsn declared feme time since that
“ the republican who petit ltd power ai d
did rot employ it to tfiabhfh a defpotifta
was a fed.” His writ for Ogden was ser
ved on captain Shaw of the navy who had
him in charge at my rrqueti, on heard the
Etna bomb-ketch, and delivered, him up,
and Mr, Woiktran difeharged him withes':
giving me a word of infoi matter, although
he knew he was ccrfimd by my cider ter
a treufonable combination with Burr, and
Mr. Ogden now firms at large. Swart
wcut 1 have sent cfl* and (hall so repcil*
hcidii g ray felt reedy lor cciiftqwr.ee s,—*
Bull in?, n was icquited by the ffpericr court,
but I have got rid cf that *ffdr «!fc, under
the dual liability for damages-, In which
case 1 (hall look te cur country for protec
tion.
1, James Wilkinfcn, Erigcdicr Gsneral
and Commander in Cltttf of the Army cf
the U. States to warrant theamft of Deft.
E.ick Bulliusn on a charge cf trofiir, mif
pnfion cf trealon, or such Other offence a
gainlt the govcinment acd laws of the U. S,
as the following fadii may legally charge
him with—on my honor as a foidier, and on
the holy evaogelift of Almighty Cod, do
declare, and swear, that on the sixth day of
November left, when in command at Nat
chitoches, I received by the hands of a
Frenchman, a stranger to me, n letter from
Doflor Erick Bollman, of which the follow
ing is a corred copy,
“ Kew-Orleans, Sept, fj, lto6.
“ Si a, 1 have the honor to forward to
your Excellency the eaclofed letters, which
I wasjcharged to deliver to you by cur mu
tual friend. 1 (hall remain feme time at
this place, and (hould be glad to leata where
ar.d when I may have the pit afore of an
interview with you. Have the goednefs
to inform ma of it, and plcafc to dired your
letter to me, cate ol . ,or enclof*
it under cover to them. 1 have tbe hunor
to be with great refped. Sir,
Your Excellency's mutt obedient fervaat.
(Signed) ERICK EOLLMAX.”
“ Cciu Wilkirfon.
Covering m communication tie cypher from
col . Aaron Burr, of•which the fellonuieeg it
fuLJiautially as fair an interpreiation as /
have heretofore Intn able to mate, the ori
ginal of which 1 held in try pof 'Jfm :
I (Aaron Burr) have obtained lunds and
have adually commented the enter prize
detachments ftotw dilfetent points and order
different pretences will rendezvous on the
Ohio ill November —every thing internal
and external favors views—P.ctcft ion of I
England is fccurtd—*T is gone to Ja- 1
maica to arrange wi \\ the admiral on iliac
ttaiion and will meet at the Mifliilippi—— d
England*——Navy es the Uniitd Siares are
ready to join and final ordv.s ate given to
my friends and followers—it win be at. licit
of choice fpitits—VViikii.rcn flutli be leuind
to Burr only--V* iikinfon (hail dilate the
rank and promotion of his officers.— Uw. >
will proceed Wed ward nt Auguti—never
to return —with h.ru go Las d-ug!»tci
hulbaud will follow in Oftober with 3 corps
of worthies —find tufth—with art intelli
gent and confidential ftier.d with whom
Burr may confer. He (hall ratura iiumcdi
ately with further isteretting details—;his
* Trifxtaj:,
v