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BURR’S CONSPIRACY.
rROM THE N'A’l ION VI. IWi ni.LIOF.KtEn.
Concluded fi r :r, our h'ft.
To determine whether • measures pi?r
ucd at Nf■•.'/-( Irfeans a:: it • is ncccr.-
p<*ry to consider how f-rgcr.t r.-.i Vv ’ kmxot) had
It M(;il lit 1)1.>1 e Iliat I C I I U lie. < > .;v 1 ‘IL.-ch,
•> required an invasion ot tin; w.il authority.
The most obvious ton . .'.on il.r.t pit-
Bents itself on-this subject is the scene t> uc
lion, wl.i< Ii differed from the other parts ofthe
niiefi Kanes, in two material rcspcct-i ; irom
its being tin; theatre of menaced hostilities on
the part of Spain, and from the < irtumt.U'. t .-a
tiuit naturall) flowed lro.ii its recent acquisi
tion.
The whole tenor of general Wilkinson’s
disp.m lies and measure* slit w tliat I'.;; coiisid
t-rc I tli IVoi.tti ;• ct.pov dtoi. c greatest dang
er ; uml that lie douh’cd the ctmpclcncy of
hi . fofc< sto defend it i ainst the supeiiur for
ces tint Snail) either had, .r eot.K-.inplated to
.lit in motion against him. He knew that if
he should be detcaled, Neiv-t irli .ms must fail.
While under these apprehensions, the cinina-
Ticsol Hnrr appear in t!ie mi:b.t of i.is atiny,
and attempt to cot v.pt him. i lad he not suffi
cient reason to he alarmed at the audacity and
profligacy of sucii an attempt? Ilad lie not
reason to apprehend tint the same motives
that led to :Hi i attempt would extend h . It to
•efforts to seduce hi. officers end men < lie
could fully appreciate the elfect on gallant or
Mierc.cmiry minds of the proposition ol a pro
j- whii h held out the promise of reward in
the mines of Mexico, and distinction, in the
foundation of anew empire. Had the least
< neouragement, negative or positive, been giv
en to such views, he might have justly trem
bled for the fidelity of Ids army. Ibid they
proved f idiic s to their country, the Spaniards
might have Miuck a blow, that would have de
prived the United States for a time, of New-
Orlratis; and which would inevitably have pi o
duced a bloody war between the two nations.
Take in connection with lids view of the‘sub
ject the circiunstaiu es naturally arising from
tlu recent acquisition of that country.
Without intending in the least to derogate
from the virtues of the people of the Orleans
territory, it must be acknowledged that i.ias
intlt It as the major population consists of per
sons of foreign birth, spa ..king a different lan
guage, accustomed to different hal its,and lion)
under a different governm nt, there was reas
on to apprehend that disaffection to the union
would, in such a place, naturally find friends
and advor tes. When added to this, it is known
tube the resort of adventurers from all parts
ofthe United States, many of whom repaired
them lor the purpose of retrieving their bro
ken fortunes, under the hope of rapidly acquir
ing wealth, and that of this description were
some gi eat dcl’.uiltct , to the government of the
l uitc.l States, it must be allowed that there
was reason to dread the influence of such al
luring hopes as were lu ld out ; and that there
Was likewise reason to believe that unless
strongmeasures were taken, treason might at
tain tv height that would enable it successfully
to accomplish its destructive piirp...acs.
There is one further consider..dun well fit
ted to excite extreme solicitude—the distance
oi’the scene from tin- seat of government, and
the total inability in case of danger, to w ait for
instructions from the supreme executive au
thority. Tltis i ircumst n.t c would neer- • rri'v
tend to give confidence l<> men who had form
ed unlawful pi ejects. Confiding in the difli
drnce ol the subordinate officers to call forth
Hie public energies they would take their steps
with an assurance that they would not he coun
tervailed by any measures of sufficient vigor
to i heck them. Such, in fact, appears to have
been the impression, in this very ease.
Holding tin r considerations stedfastly in
view, id us e nebciy notice the facts, as stat
ed i her bv Wilkinson or other persons.
, hatever suspicions may be afloat as to the
hr; pin or credibility of Wilkinson, for the
le -■ ■ wlnrh have been air. idv assigned, they
rr ■ be received towards the invalidation of
i.. vi ouiiy in this instance. There has not
i. :> itimirrd a shadow of proof of his want of
Ii ■ lily, lie lias been, it is true, accused of
i N.yvesty Its th - charged with guilt, with
t tin ot it .. on ; but, is not this the first
ti oe nr have ever heard ofthe veracity of lite
i.r. jvt being invalidated by the testimony of
t..e au'tr.cil. while the latter remained unac
pa.'u and ; Wc must then, on the question now
it it vice rocfoi. fetation. cot:-.-dor Wilkinson’s
*1 )*rtivts. ivs well asthma e*f every other ctv
d~ie• vvcr.lv"Vo trot, vn.k ,s they possess in
ib r'v*elws grounds. toe disbelief. I
la\ ,t ni-'t I‘i ‘X'iv uuderstood that we mean
to desrj'-fe *J) ry of the vague charges siilodg
td Arit-it the. •Ccvmn.mder inch. f. They
ns .*• wf <■* e, i;u: wjwjiher true, or not, they
a i >;. in this -'-.v. lb .g-,u!t, on a
f.v/w-i >nt i -row. ,*t)!vot itv.-.he liis pv\s.: xt acta
< wb I *.?•(<.: ■ ‘ -g, .v <;Yturpitude may
an r h former, w Utter rs-vv le in the
b-yW'.'i’ .-.i t.uc ;iK.c. Nordu we mean
■ “.•r.etm ivxvi .'j •••:• vivo motives of
Avesrtil rV.,I hi dtis biuu-v ss. l.et
tivst* ‘ !, *c ’.’ - \t : fcr*. p; uiejpated
v*.:a -•■>■ r. i . fa Jujrlv sti;\ iuhv sv.s
----tr-i. St';! s. ’ :-j dM y arc, w - can only jadge o:i
yit, i: ‘ rmre -v. fare lie V* li.f is >he .ItlKMltU
r'e.'x s.xfr- ,an >
• The y e.shiec.t, iu his eoraintmication to cok
p vi
* i'.y ■, 1-* fee n*i civf.(s ftv.m that otrK'ev W'ii
iha n;nß V 1: th V#n mU r, be.. <;.••. u Ocio
h.-rt -r, .carat, that a * nnldientiid . s r a,vf \
rv*. 1 bcEfx iJrjxatesi :u hua evJv comm uni-1
. eacpartly viitten in cypher and partly i
I oral, explaining his designs, exaggerating his
I resources, and making such oilers .of etuolu-
I roent and command, to engage him and the
I* the army in his unlawful cnlcrpi izc, as he flair
let td him sell would be success! ul. The genc
{ rai, vvi.ii the honor of a soldier, and fidelity of a
• t oo:! citizen, immediately dispatched a trusty
j of’ er to me with information of what had pas
sed, proceeded to establish such an understand
ing v.iili the Spanish commandant on the Sa
bine ~s permitted him to withdraw his ibices
across tiie Mississippi, and to cuter on measuics
for opposing the projected enterprise.
“ The general’s letter which came to hand
on the k :th of .November, as has been men
tioned, and some other information, received a
• few days earlier, when brought together deve
loped Burr’s general designs, different pahs
of which only had been revealed by different
information. It appeared that he contemplat
ed two distinct objects, which night be carried
on, cither jointly or separately, and either the
one or the other first as circumstances should
direct. One of these was the severance of tic
union of these stales by the Allegany mom
tain:;, the other an attack on Mexico. A tbrd
object was provided, nearly ostensible, to nil,
the settlement ofthe pretended purchase of a
tract of country on the Vv'ashitta, claimed by a
baron Bastrop. This was to serve as the pre
text for till his preparations, an allurement for
such follower , as really wished to acquirer set
tlements in that country, and a cover under
which to retreat in the event of a final discom
fiture of both branches of his teal design.
Ile found at once that the attachment of the
western country to the union vas not to be sha
ken ; that its dissolution could not be effected
with the consent ofils inhabitants ; and that r.is
resources were inadequate, as vet to effect it by
force, lie took his course then at once, deter
mined to seize on New-Orleuns, plunder ttie
bank there, possess himself of the military and
naval stores, and proceed on his expedition to
Mexico, and to this object all his means and
preparations were now directed. He collected
from all the quarters where himself, cr his a
gents possessed influence, all the ardent, rest
less, desperate and disaffected persons who
were ready for any enterprizc analogous to
their characters, lie seduced good and veil
meaning citizens, some by assurance that he
possessed the confidence of the government,
and were acting under its secret patronage ; a
pretence which procured sonic credit from the
state of our differences with Spain, and others
by offers of land in Bastrop’s claim on the
Washitta.”
In consequence of this information, a large
armed force was either held in readiness or
called out in the several states, and ten holies,
and vigorous measures pursued for iletending
Ncw-()rleans.
His other projects having proved abortive,
“he determined to seize on Nevv-Oileans,
plunder the bank there, possess hiiuscii or the
naval and military stores, and proceed on liis
expedition to Mexico.”
The impressions on the mind of Wilkinson,
were derived principally, as far as is known
to us, from Burr’s letter to him, which announ
ces the following facts:
1. That Burr had funds.
I’hat he had commenced the enterprise.
3. That the protection of England was se
cured.
■l. That Truxton had gone to Jamaica, and
would bring from thence aids from England.
5. That the navy of the U. S. would join the
expedition.
6. That, on the 15th Nov. 500, or 1,000
men, the first detachment, would move down
the river.
7, That Swart wout, the bearer of the letter,
was .thoroughly informed of the plans and in
tentions, and would disclose as far as Wilkin
son should enquire.
8 1 hat Dollman, equally confidential, and
even belter informed, and” more intelligent,
would hand a duplicate of the letter.
In the conversation, which Wilkinson depos
es he had with Bollman, he says, Bollman “in
formed me, that he he had seen a letter from
colonel Burr ofthe 30th of October, in which
he, (colonel Burr) gave assurances that lie
should he at Natchez with 2000 men, on the
tli ot December last, where he should wait
until he’ heard from this place. That he would
be followed by 1000 men more, and that he
(colonel Burr) if he had chosen, could have
raised or got 12,000 as easy as 6,000, but that
he did not think that number necessary.”
In his coma rsation with Swartwout, Wilkin
son deposes, that the latter informed, -“that
colonel Burr, with the support of a powerful
as*relation, extending from .New-York to New-
Orleans, was levying an armed body of 7,000
men, from the state of New-York, and the
western states, and territories, with a view to
• . rry on an expedition against the Mexican
provinces, and dial 500 men under colonel
Svt r.rlwout, and a colonel or major Tyler were
to dt: ccr.d the Allegany, for whose accommo
elation,’ light boats had” been built, and were
read.;.-. I enquired what would be theircoursc.
lie said, *• this territory would be revolution
ised, w here the people were ready to join them,
os. tout there would lie some seizing he sup
no-cd at Ncvv-Orleans—that they expected
to be ready tut embark a’oout die first ofFeb
t\ia\ . am; intended to laud at X era Cruz, and
to march from thence to Mexico. I observed,
that invr. w ere several millions cd dollars in
die bank of this place, to which he replied,
” sv, ‘ know it full welt,” and cn my remarking,
that, tlicy did not mean to violate private pro-’
p rtv. h said, “they merely meant to borrow
nud would return A—that they must equip
tkemselvos in Xew-Orleails, that they expect
ed to*’ ul protection iruin Grcat-Brifkin—- that
i the captain r.nd the Cii.CC of our nary, i
were so- disgusted with the government that
they were rc„dy to join.**
These appear to have been the principal
circumstance , that impressed the mind c. the
commander in chief, with the danger of ti.c
crisis. The deposition oflieut. Wilson, shews
the impression produced on the public mind
at Ncw-Orleaiis.
fie says, “ I left Ncw-Orlcans on my way
to this city, on the 15th of Dccemrer last; at
that time, and for some time ’ preceding, the
strongest apprehensions and belief unit,u:ally
prevailed among the inhabitants of that ci:v,
that Aaron Burr and his confederates lad p t
pared an armed force, and were advancing to
attack and plunder the city ; in consequence
of which, the greatest alarms prevail- <l, a gen
eral stagnation of business ensued, and die dan
ger was credited there, as a matter of public
notariety :—That brigadier general Wilki.xon
with the army ofthe United States ww, al.New-
Orieans, occupied in the most active military
preparations for the defence of the place ; re
pairing the forts, mounting cannon, collecting
ammunition, See. all under the firm persuasion
and belief that such an attack v. as meditated,
and tho’t very speedily to take place, by the
said Burr and Jus confederates ; tins deponent
knows,that the general was decidedly of (.pin
ion, from the most salisiaclory information,
that the said Burr, and his confederates were
advancing with an armed force against the
place.”
Such arc the leading facts on which general
Wilkinson took his measures. There are sev
eral other affidavits w hich strongly corroborate
them; but as they align to the same c Sleet,
so lar as regards the reality or apprehensiotr
of danger at c\v-Orleans, and principally dif
fer from these as to the persons implicated, we
shall not particularly notice them.
Let then any man combine all these facts,
and from their collective force appreciate the
degree of danger in the territory of Orleans,
and say whether there was not reason to be
lieve that without a striking display of power,
the plan to seize the city, to plunder the bank,
and to provide the means either of an expedi
tion against .Mexico, or of a disemlwrsement
ofthe union, or of both, might not have suc
ceeded l The actual result is not here to he
considered. That could not be known to Wil
kinson. If he did conscientiously believe the
danger to be such as he represents it to have
been; was not an invasion of civil rights, if jus
tifiable in any case, justifiable in this ?
Suppose ample funds had been provided, a
bundaiit inugazil es prepared, the American
Navy engaged, British .assistance given, and an
at my of seven thousand men marched, and
that this external force had been aided by trea
son wiikin; would not the consequences have
been dreadful 1 At such a crisis cuukl tire civil
authority have discharged its oidinary func
tions ? Would they not have been completely
arrested ?—Would not military law have been
necessarily substituted ?
This was exactly the state cf things which
Wilkinson must have expected, if iris repre- j
sentations arc honest. It was, then, to save the
territory from the dreadful scenes which might!
have ensued from temporising with men he i
deemed traitors, that he arrested them, and j
assumed the high responsibility of doing that i
which notiiingshort of imperious necessity,!
lie knew, could justify ? It was to diminiah that !
danger which menaced die territory with ruin, <
that lie took this step ; to render it possible by !
combining in one solid column ail the inferior j
force, to meet the external assault. lie had S
reason to dread the influence of intrigue, and j
to fear that emissaries of Burr would raise a j
party against him, perhaps in his very army,
paralise every measure of defence taken by
him. Acting, therefore, on the necessity of
the case, he tit-rested them, and removed them
from the scene of action.
We shall not attempt any enquiry into the
sufficiency of his reasons for all the arrests
made by him. The materials for forming a
judgment are not before us. Whether they
were equally strong in the cases of Adair,
Alexander and Ogden, as in those of Bollman
and Swartwout, cannot be ascertained, as the
affidavits in the former cases have not been
published. Common justice, however, requires
us to avoid a precipitate judgment. If these
men are innocent, as they say they are, jus
tice will not he denied them. The courts of
law and an impartial jury of their country, will
vindicate their violated lights.
Union Society.
THE Members of the Union Society are desired to
convene at the City-Hall, on THURSDAY, die 2;lii
inftsnt, precisely at nine o’clock in the forenoon, in
order to tranfaiil the usual buhneis of the du), and ce
lebrate the anniversary.
A SERMON will be preached before the Society
by the Rev. Mr, Kolcock, at twelve o’Jock, in the
New Brelbyterian Church, St. James’ Square.
Peter ,S. Laffitte, .secretary.
_, April 9 33
COURT OF ORDIN A BY.
Georgia, Chatham County, April f>, 1807.
Present — Their Honors, Edward Telfair,
William Smith and John 11. .Morel.
Ordered , That in future all CITATIONS
for ADMINISTR VTION, and qll other Or
ders appertaining to the Court of Ordinary, he
published in The Georgia Republican, uad Even
ing Ledger.
Ordered , That the abote order !>c published
three Lyues.
Extract from the Minutes,
Edwahd White, Clerk.
EUROPEAN POLITICS.
VI • Al TIIF AURORA.
• “
j The ship Packet, has arrived at Horten In
j 26 davs irom 1 ; ;; Si brinu-a Lonuon ne-.a
iodic i-kh I ciiuxvv and Il'ich Lufleiii.s U
No. 52.
The gttrll accounts of the French b* : l!e
tins arc given in -ur preccdii.;-; coltir.;: as v. e
found them in the Boston Ceminc—and as
v.c give lire former Luiictihs c. ti.c bat.k-s of
Pultu.sk and (jolvmin—leseVving to ourselves
the p.hii. gc cl printing thermite bulletins, as
soon us British or French papei s conu.ining
them shelf foil into the hands e: a more imp. i
tiul editor than major Kum.c’—we hope to be
able to give them entire, when our readers
will find,. > the Ccniinrl rcirsaiks, that -wind it
has now givi :i has been nut bled, and “ misers
bl, tr.,n k.‘.; cl indeed.-” ‘J ho Centind, howev
er, took • ur to publi h at full ktig'll the Eus
,ian account, and v.v. arc glad of it, fa-even
that gives sorrowful evidence against the re
port oitkc French defeat.
‘Eliodefeat of the Ei -ndi, with ti.e loss of
100,09") men, turns nut ju-t us vve expected--,
it wasaiiother Auslt riiiz More. < >ur loaders
must, t-membcr the Bur ian accounts of the
halt c of Austc.i Biz, the French wore rijml.ed
as they arc now said to be, but sonic how. oj*
other the ‘Russians u u .1 .0 pieces of cannon
sticking in the mud, which the French tcok
post cm:,ion of-—the French were defeated but
the Russians remitted —and far enough God
knows.
‘j lie Russian official account, cf the battle.of
Pukusk, is that upon which vc- now lav the
most stress —they happily succeeded ir, repul
sing the French but they had to lan;ex|‘.hat
the total v ant of provisions and forage obliged
them to retir. —just as they did at the battle of
Austcrlitz. ;
Now the Russians were ■at Fultusk, thev
were at Golymie, and at Osttolir.ka—The
1 rench are now at all those places which is
certainly a very singular evidence of their hav
ing !>een repulsed and beaten.
1 hese beatings, indeed, are something in
the style oi the tiuke of York’s victories—t;7.
vro,? never beaten. But, says a warm federalist
at the coffee-house, the French head quarters
h a\c retregadetf to Warsaw.
1* ranee has so long been accustomed to per
form such prodigies to annihilate armies by
50 v 100,000, that ii the bad roads- prevent
their artillery from being brought into action,
and a single man ot tlveir opponents escapes,
the vie mi y is claimed by their friends.
Do they know how highly they raise the
French by such futile exultation ?
“ Excepting the capitulation cf lire slave, c tie:
vo ini!i‘(ivy nunl <J vote has occurredl’ ■
Excepting the capitulation’ of Breslav.—and
pray v hut is Btcslaw ;—what i.- ltrcig ?
is tne surrender oi all the strong fortresses-of
Silesia, v .c alter the other :—what is- the sei
zv: e, in these fortresses, of amis and an:niu
aifioii sufficient to equip the Polish at-.xi'.iiuies J
j.hing, \V hy co tneu- friends catch at such
y tints deceive the n . elves ?
j Do. they recollect that the. campaign only
v commenced on the lOih of Octoher—a time of
c the year vvben armies formerly went into win
-1 ers—i nd, that, in tl t spaqe of
> three months, Boiiap. iie has annihilated what
I it took those, who were accounted the. greatest
• wai l iors t/1 the age, 100 years to consolidate.
IA . .to.c ato the gica, victGii;-s c*, Aiai iho—
rottg and I .ugene, ev en those of Frederick the
gtc_t c*l -1 ussia—they appear now onlv as
skirmishes.
Bonaparte has retreated to Warsaw—but the
French army has not retreated —thev iiold all
the positions before held by the ” Russians,
i when the French were defeated. To use the
j official account cf the Russian general— !£ I
j have fiirtlier to lament, that the total want of
; provision and forage obliges me to retire.”
Let us comfort their friends, we wish not to
deprive them of it—but we care not what con
struclion they put on this retiring. “Whether
they y ere beaten by the French; cr, as the
Ruasian general says, were compelled to retreat ,
from want of provisions, they acknowledge
that they did retire, and that the Trench occupied
their positions.
“ Bonaparte has retreated to Warsaw** hut
it is only till the host sets in, and enables him.
to use his artillery with more advantage than
in the recent engagements, when it-was not
much cmplowed, owing to the thaws and bad
ness ofthe roads. At Warsaw, he i, cn /.lov
ed in organizing the polish army and the con
scripts : his army maintains the positions a
bandoaed. By the victorious Russians. It is
not, as before represented, in a. state i fcisg.;.se,
but in the best condition and supplied \rj#h a
buadam e of provisions.
Those who do not find consolation in tiie re
treal ofthe I-rench, and the glorious victory
ol the Rtx-'-i.-.-.js, endeavor to comfort then*-
selves with the e'uxctaiion ol tiie Russians
spec xy acting on t!ic ot’c.i-ivc, but .a tl is
they v.ill be as miicii mistaken.as ever; tiie
Russians .J ;,k 1 civ.ployment ruough., and
mot e th. u tlu y can su r tiu, m defending them
selves and tacir couiiti v.
‘i he siege of Colburn.-, of Dantr.jc, and the
flight of the king of Prussia, from
are also, we suppose, evidences of defeat.
— ” - ■ ~~~ =r=^-—===r
Prime Slaves.
54 Men, Women, Boys o: Girls,
FOR SALE. Apply to,
• cr* ry dft do r r?p nr/• -
and. f4k/ a ■ /7 * J JJSI t 0 (_4 /
March to. i-# qt. jj.