Newspaper Page Text
TROM THE WESTER K WORID.
Jhe Krrtvtlu Spam* It afsocin.
lion , Blount• cor./•■piracy, U‘
genetal Miranda'& expedition.
We have row presented the
public with the leading features
•of ‘his conspiracy, and the names
Oftwoor three of the principal
projector*, ft remains to investi
*gate .t tar means which were pUn
lrt cl to carry ‘their pbd into exe
cution, with those <vther charac
ters f ‘distinction who joined
tlteir views and were ftbet'ors of
thedesigu. line, -however, we
feel ourselves treading upon the
most ‘delicate ground. Several ol
th sc men are out of cur reach
nd to devolve their crimes upon
ti'eir frlet cl- would be lingerie
- rents and unjust.— Others again
although • present l.eve proliiibiy
r* p tiled of the rash and iwitor
ousnd h at'd hrive iv route
w: im supporters of the federal
gor en mei't-of the union. >(Jnder
tiif'e . < ircumsuinces, we have
jvc'g and ittnost ativis< able in man'’
cases mils to o>e Hanks w stars
in place ol iwm: s.
‘I he lead tig men ‘in the state
who approved of or participated
in i.he scheme (f ‘he conspirators
■find whom “c i house to designate
in ilk r,i one were Mr.——,
capt. ******####, judge ,
*i and comm ! Several have
tp| Oned that colonel I'as
merely seduced nto approbation
■ fry judgi No suppo
• wi. ion, however, is nude iinfound
*()„ Col. even when a vou- li
had more influence over judge
• than,- I he-latter had over lire .1
former. For .colonel ——, as a
,F ! vate character, ue entertain .
lln. highest respect; we.are con
/fident that his moral deportment
in life, is perhaps .unrivalled ; ihat
fje ys a kind husband, all affection
me lather.and a sincere fiitr.d ;
but viewing him as a politician
ve have no hesitation in pro-
J'Ounting that his inind is strong
-)y biassed towards power. The
tauiious reserve which attends ail
the actions of col, ——, poin'cd j
lmn out, a proper coi’fnltat for
Mu conspirators. All the cotniwu
.ltiratiom of the partv ■woreeo
tmsttdto his care and, he. was
. usually ref rred to, as the source
ol lidomiatiun on all points in the
conspiracv.— He was possessed
ol the correspondence between
Wiik inson at; I Giozo, between |
Gui'doq ie drown, and ol ma
in letters from Mr. , and
iUr. on the subject.
‘1 he literary abilities of Mr.
—— which were celebrated over
the union, made die acquisition
cl his name ap object ol earnest
.|>ursuii wuh tiuup.u ty. I lie well
v tint n let'et justify lug the con
duct cf iht citizen* ol Kentucky,
•s to some of itie late nveusuies
©f tlse general government, is a
Kufficichi proof ol the txiraordi
jiai \ laiems o-f this,goiulcmau, at
the same time that u presents the
deplorable deception and hypo
crisy practiced-on the people of
this ebutury, by some who affect
cd an union of political seiiti
iuents with him, vvluie in reality
vtlicir treasonous put poses made
*he {woptr objects ol allusion, to
vhi<Ai tv is tmtli|j€nt continents
could be pointed.— Who could
have imagined or even btlievtd
that an association in treason
Co"'d affect a fiitndship for hint
yjy>o had penned the following
zgntt,acv }
“ Pause then, mv ,ftied, and
think clt libt ratelv and di-passion
ately; and do not let anv nnpriyp.
er cogddet at a foreign nation, to
v Inch your attention is already
turned on o.nje sttjh , blind you to
the immediate danger which
hangs oyer the liberties of your
Country, on the other, A*, tlu;
time \ou arc calling out arm, arm
pgainst the foreign log, who ymi
*.iy threatens the independence
ot pur country, do ri"t shut your
eyes to .domestic violations ot our
Constitgfton and our liberties.
Whitt w'll it avail us, if we cap
preset ye pur iitdep* tide lice as a
nation, nay if we can even raise
put country to die highest pucli
ol national gloiy, provided we at
the same nine lo;-e our own liirer
l;y# iif J; utUfC is this liipy sub-
jected at hoirtfi to die miliary
despotism xvltich is said to reig ll
there ; v il! Hie conquest ntchu v
etl by her arms, and the glorv
which surrounds her, compensate
the people of that country in the
smalles’ Hefner for their hist li
berties ? Can the pow er and con
sequence of tyrants ever alleviate
llie miseries of their slaves
If they cannoty we ought to con
sider it as a trylb of the most im
portant nature, that independence
abroad is of too real v*l •, unless
it be accompanied with liberty at
borne.”
. This gentleman was well in
form! and when he wrote this letter
th.it the illustrious Washington
knew all tiie proceeding* ol Hie
conspirators, that he had the
most wiHchhi! eye over thetn, &
his arm readv to strike at ‘heir
first movement. Mark, then, the
attful language which be uses, in
expresxir g liis sentiments °f
Washington : u Hut -we cannot
put implicit confidence in any
man's opinions ( Washington’s o
j.iniotis) neither can we be duped
by an expectation ol receiving a
kind service from hid, which his
present situation as ‘commander
in chief will not enable him to
remit “k Wh< nhe “as president
he bad it in his power, audit -was
his duty, to -iirmte the measures
wild h were tube pursued.; hut as
ct tninaitder i:i djt#j’, be has no
hand in directing public mea
sures, mid is equally bound with a
corpoial, to obey those that are
on cued by others., fits infftitncc
ai >d his talents may have a great
effect in carrying - into- execution
those .measures winch are dictat
ed In oihers; and Si those nuta
surcc wre vvisy.just and constitu
tional, his services as a general
will jnocluce tire htippiest cotrse
quciitcs. Hut if those measures
should be. weak, desutuc'ive and
unconstitutional, then the great
support they would receive tiom
his name and talents, would lie
the greatest of misfortunes to Ins
country. As commander in chiet :
we may safely calculate on re-’
ceivingthe most essential service*
from him, against any invading
foreign enemy ; but as Command,,
er in chief, we cannot derive any
uidirom him, against domestic
tyianiu and- Mulaiionsol ourcon
stiiuiion.”
.Lapi,#*** ****** has been
for upwards of twenty years the
intimate tiiend of Wilkinson.
The domestic vicinity in which
they dived, together in Woodlord
ipr several yean, ia well known.
‘i his circumstance, therefoie, ea
sily accounts tor the bitter and
pnjudiccd enmtty winch thei<<i
ye.ie captain possessed
Air. Joim Uanuolplt. ‘1 he taictits
patriotism, and unrivalled elov.
q.ience ot Mr. liandulph, capt.
—— abusirs mi every
company, lie had e>ven the inv
petimence to affirm, not many
days since that few individuals in
Virginia estimated the abilities
ot Air. liandulph, but Mr. Geo :
May, u.r. Idea, and M-jor Scott.,
of the city cf Hichmond, Va It
isttue that the opinion of major
Stott, marslnl ol Virginia, carries
with it not more weight than the
•bubbling of an 0 1 ( J woman ; —bnt
the judgement of Mr. May will
be revtttd as long as tlie essays
of Ilortt nsius lives. Thu secret
howevt r, is, that Mr. Katidolph
has been always opposed to the
appo. lit meat of p-nrial Wil„
khtsen, and this is a sufficient
cause for him to incur the re
sentment ol captain——- .
‘Fite occasional trips which capt.
—— -made to Virginia,
afforded him an opportunity of
sounding several characters in
that state as to the probability of
success, at.d many persons we
have been informed to
Kentucky for the express pur
pose of joining the conspirators ;
those thaiacters viz. “ito like
Wilkinson, possessed more am
bition than wealth, and were ac
tuated more by gold than love of
their ccunttv.
Judge has been uniformly
a confidential friend of Yv ill.inson
and was principally entrusted
” iih the rhatge of his domestic
aff.nrs when the latter It ft the
s'.ai*. Ahhuugh this judge
wasunq'W’sttonahlv a pnrtkan in
the st h m< , vet it is dm opin'on (
of srftie persons that he was in a
great me *nrre deceived, aT>t< in
reality uni- contemplated a sep'*
ration from the union, and a
commercial treatv with Spain.
For ourselves until we ate m
possession of conclusive evid nee
relative to certain circunt inners
which have been narrated bv s e
veral iod vtdua's, we shall iiot
hazard an opinion.
There is ano'her gentleman
whom we regard as a dutv tv)
it.'ime, not wit-’ *bc view of im
plication, but exculpa ton, viz.
Mr. Bieckenridget, the present
attoriier general of the U. Sta'es.
Ithtts been rumored tor several
years past in those circles where
the con piracy was talked 01,
ih it Mr. t.rei kenridge was an ac
tive “projector in the business—
But the charge has been extreme
ly ui just. We know from public
ieitcrs tn the possession of a gen
tleman, in this state, that altiio’
Air. bn cLenridge had trome
knowledge of the Spanish as'O
ciat'tn ; yet, he opposed and re
pfoUaiuci win never required, -
very idea ■}a separation liotn the
muon. Jhe opposition which he
uiade- to it, was also the means ot
hts incurringohe rescttintuiu of a
leading conspirator, wlto, -ever
SJ uCe, has used his exeitions to
delome and destroy tire polinca l
t'pcuaiion of Mr. ilreckeiinclge.
it appeared obvious that the
first necessary .preparation for
throwing the ttste of Kentucky
under the \ oke of Spain, “as
procure an vnirre separation t cm
the union,. To enforce and ff ct
this, the minds of the |)opvilace
were excited by mfl.iinniatory
speeches itgainst the executive of
the United States—-It was en
dcavored to be shewn in those
public burrangues, that the United
Stales were bartering away the
navigation of the Mississippi :
that they were oppressing the
citizens of Kentucky with a load
ol national debt, and imposing
hard and restricting laws. Goner,
ai W iikiitsott in a public speech
made at Lexington, (which we
are informed is piintedii! imlay’s
history ol North Ametica,) used
tiitiiiy arguments of this •‘(lescnp.
non, douutless with -a design of
tousing the people to acts of se
dition and violent e. >1 he idea of
a state being entirely unconnect
ed & .ndepclidetit ot other states
is certainly a gratifying one to its
citizens,and >.cate no-t -astonish
ed that the conspirators, under
this plausible and popular cloak
should have drawu lM ,.cv follow
ers. YV lien j, separation Could
lie t fleeted, and Kcmuoky with
the adjacent west eril territory no
longer protected by the Atlantic
stales they conceived that the
reliactot y citizen migh be easily
subdued by the joint assistance of
tlie conspuatots and a military
lorce lto n , New Gi ieatts. It was
at tbts period that the inilitaiy
coin maud of the “hole, as we
have stated, was offered to Gen.
Scott, who with indignation re
fused it, Gontmissions were made
out for the subordinate officers,
to lire number, e are informed
at least of lAO, in the suite of Ken
lucky.
Tl-e individuals who were to
fill the civil offices were likewise
designated. These were not
merely nominal commissions but
tlie holders of thetn received the
acKquam pay ftom the Spanish
government.
In respect to the proofs of gen
eral Wilkinson bolding a commis
sion from tile Spanish govern
ment lor this purpose— these are
unquestionable, and shall be pro.
duced at the close ot this investi
gation. The character of Wilkin
son as one of the “atm support
ers of the Adams adiuimsti aiipn
is euually notorious. YY’e l ave
Stated Ids hurrying aw ay to Phi
ladelphia immcUt diiv alter ihe
election cf joim Adam*, to pay
hts obedience in the coon of tlie
Bruinuee monarch. When he
was on this royal visit he met, bv
actidt in, judge t'ymes, of the
j stale ot Uhto. YV ukinson and lie
j had lot me ily been intimate in the
J atui\ —YV ilktnson act.osiid fns
, x anvi tire judge with . u „ foli ow .
tntr exprf <,c ’ n n ‘ “ W U Jmk '’
. lv< VO n 1 tit S I P° ‘ °“ r
id. n “> * tvpl.v"*lS
in .hen Rati vc. Wilk n-ot! an
s'vrrnl, “ <'l mv itu and there Is
n n kitliirg hr . P r, ‘ lis
•Dus are much ahcieii since ‘ Oil
„P,| I (ci plu t £>t tiler in the revo
!uti< liar*, w-r, and I 1 aVt :,n V
r ,
n. in t alter I kew sc.
Wilkinson and ‘tlam* p* ’ h:' [
had seen each other Loin : ly.
bit their intimafv only cum
nteticed at thi period; ami we
have Itches’ reieor to believe,
that 1 e rupture between Mr.
Adams nod general Hum lion
first oi4inated in die base tns.n
r*
nations of YVi kinson. i r'iern.
Hairtd'on, hoevtver unfortun.-tk
lie n.igiit have been in his po
litical piinri’plt's, is well known
to have been a real soldier, and
us a‘oldier op-n and tand and. It
tie bore an atiiwtoeity or ititei
tainetl an -unfavourable opinion
towards any indivitlual, lie dca
clan and so ; but He was no tiaitor
or conspirator. —He knew that
Wilkinson was -both, and that he
would sacrifice his country
soon as bis friend. -He had trac
ed and m uked ali the actions of
Wilk nson from liis mtiuuci
wit It general Gates until ins visit
at the ‘levt-e of president A .. tn - ,
General JI .mil,on knew tnat |
VVirksuson rase bv the favor of
Gales, from the same cause, ib,u
actuated James the tst of ngland |
in tiie creaticn of peers and t-o
----olc ~ “ P'ornumim
eudebnt Alexin.” As me conduct j
ot Y\ i ‘kntson under Gau-s n °' v i
veiy■generally known, we -naif I
rtpi'ai it lu-re :—The evening
previous to trie celebrated action !
c>f Sarat ga, the bravo colonel
Hardin advatictd vvithift the lines
of the Hr tish and unobserved,
took a particular view of the po
sition and strength of their forc
es. In returning to Ins camp he
met Wilkinson, who was strolling
about on some pleasure party", ct
knowing his intimacy wilt Gates
be communicated tne informa
tion he had obtained within tne
British lines. Wilkinson related
it immediately to his general, but
in place <>f giving Hardin the
credit betook the whole to hint
self magnifying the story with an
account of several hazards he had
encountered on hG return to
camp. After the capture of Bur
guy ne aml his army, Gains em
braced the opportunity of raising
ms favorite o the ra..k of brevet
gene.al and sent him off expie-.s
to congress with an account ot
hts victoiy, in hopes that the pre
let incut m gut be confirmed.
Wilkinson however in place of
attending to the importance ol
tlie dispatches which he bote,
loitered away his time in auuise
m. tu unut congress were iniorm
ed of the success of Gates several
days before: the arrival of VS /i
----kiasoii. When the motion there
fore wa-, made to confirm die
comntis'oion of brevt:t general,
one of the members observed,
that in his opinion “ a pair el
spurs was a much more suuao.e
reward lor ihe young olficer.’* j
These anecdotes, altho’ trifl. !
inj;, ojay se r ve 10 elucidate die i
cJk'laeter ol Wilkinson, ol vvh cii
general Hamilton was ihiormcd
- —and VV iikinson was q , a lly a
tvare dial while Hamilton retain,
ed the confidence of ihe jnesi
dmt, it would be vain for hint to
; expect lav our. 1 lie Jtldiesa of
| VS i.kinsun was well adapted to
impose upon the conceited and
’ credulous mind of Mr. Adams ;
j bv which means and the aid of
his colleague speculator, Jona~
tliau Hay ton, he easily elleeted a
dryness between tilt* president &
Hamilton, whkh finally termi
nated in an open rupture.
t lie name of Jonathan Dayton
will make a more conspicuous fi
guie towards the close ol our in.
vtstigaiioii, when the secrets of
Aatun Hu. r, Hdward Liv.ngston,
the chief justice ol f’revoat ol
JU*Usian.a, general Smith of dal.
( 1 1uture, cm. Smith of N. York,
<XC. w ill be uiilohied. At present
U is only necessary 10 observe,
tlsat Day ton and Wilkinson have
Uecn in constant hair.ts o| corre* .
pouueuce g.uoe the Ui a t dawu ol
the Spanish asuoriatlon in V...
•. <kv. That Day ohp n ! J,,.',
lirown, although they o;
each other in congress, jj.
siparaldc fri* ncU io priv, ‘<■ ‘j-,
the tcv. (ohn M-asoii, iht inothw
in-law of John Brown, u j ,
tlior of a scurrilous p.,,. n ),|
entitl’d —“ The voice cl U;l
j it'g,” against Mr. Ji ffursun, j,
| the waim political Gi. nci g- COj
• staitt associate of Jonathuu Dav
ion.
In our secopd number, we <t at
a memento of hi-. Ikoiot judge ji
nastian, which we hope he v ,!
regard. It is not our wish i
oisiuib bis repose or vex Ins &
position unnecessarily ; hut
train t.f incttjtn;s fonnecitd w'.i
him, I ret us to put the in!j os
tig q icstion which we trust iij
no; i mas *xpian satisfactnril
Ythat powdul cacse t.pcratt
upun jndg. a. b.oi an in IVJf:,;
cave las s< a- on ibc beiuii. an
hi. try down to New-Otiesn
withou'tetuin ug f'jr two s a ,
receiving at me same time iy
salat) us j dgefiom ute ci.tzea
of Kcntuiky f I his Vay age vv he
coupkd with tile (Xp clition ,
hts s>>n Alfred a lew m., n •,
pi t vious, certainly is mis-.cri
anu merit explanation, ihe a n d;,
1 hilled sty ie in winch he mid jj
i son it harm and, show that they w c
: viewed as no common visi () r,|
ixeu-Oi leans. A bpauhii jr ,
% i'h a proper military gu/,,
earned the judge and nis sun \
h eil to Louisville, and the
mh fficer who commandc j ( j
g.uiey was entertained afti-rw.tr
tor several days at the j u< j ,
house. YVe believe it wilj u c ;
10-fed,that such marks of distini
tujfi wouhj not liavo* bfccu conic
red ever. K-tiiuckiun ; na v
ex rem dy doubt, tmd Washin
ton nun-est descended tne vl ,
sippt, wnethcr the governor
N w-'Tllealls, would haven
dered an armed gait y r ( > t;sco
him back, boon alter the- j:ij-r
return two letters of a treason*
nature were intercepted by Ji
f iTsraaof the h dtatta territory,
persons of New-Orleans / o
Mr. G ———— has never i>vt
ed or made public the nam
the writer. A boat loaded w
dollars lur persons in Keutuci
tiaving treasonable papers
board, was likewise examine.j
tiie end ot the same year, bv
lieut. Steel of W* ne’s ar.
These are facts which were t
commended to the judges nit
serious considet ation.
(To B * CONTijlllf D J
PHIL A D LLP HI A, S,p\ 1
Q:i Satin c/iiy Ins't arrived
Aeiu Las tie, a French /rigt
having carried envoi/ her miz
mmt and main top must, a>,d
ceived some other damages in i
tale gate oj the 23 d; she ha
Tiumbtr oj Bnltsh prisontr *
Laid, end Jrorh repot t enfn,
are enablta to say, she is ore
Jet oihcHjlcet, Uiut they have
been tit me gate, that cue of th
teas obliged to throw ever all
httiis, Van most oj them hud
vetoed damage, that they u
j bound Jor the C'hetepeakr, i
\ tneij tutu taken upwuras oj hi
\iy sate o/untish vessels, m/.
i ed part oj the Jamaica ton: /•,
that they hud a great number
English prisoners on board,
BOSTON, August 22.
From London, June 17, 5 8
“ i have enclosed a tew
pc is by die Sarah. I war.
much to send the Times <1 >
niornmg, v> hieh and. n:es the r<
ol lord having f
to Paris to negcciate with 1
tey rand, or otherwise of car y
a favorable answer Irom
Fox, to .he proposal lor peace
cannot conceive of a peace
tween this country and fr.-s’
on any terms ol safety, white 1
commands the continent etui
other tin; ocefur. I'lns is me
neval opimou here, however
present administration may
inclined to peace on almost
terms, they dare not make ii, !
less it combines security.
“As to war with A meric l
do mu think it oven probable*,
a proper iepresentation, i,,
aocuuo::, jaeiicc VViU IfU.el’