CHAP. IX.

Burr's Enterprise unfolded-Proceedings in Kentucky, in Ohio, and elsewhere-Part taken by the United States' Attorney, and by the President of the United States-Wilkinson, and others, impli caled-Proceedings in the Court, and in the Legislature, &c. &c.

[1806.] RETURNING upon the current of time to the occur rences of 1806, there will be found with the transitory records of the year, a variety of narratives, highly meriting the atten tion of the reader of Kentucky history. In the course of the summer, Colonel Burr again made his appearance on the Ohio river, and its adjacent territories. Whence proceeded rumours of grand enterprises, intrigues, conspiracies, revolution, and eventual war: sometimes threatening the Spanish dominions; sometimes those of the states, and of the United States; and occasionally, even both, with rupture and dismemberment. Early in October, it was known that extraordinary measures had been assumed, and that actual preparations were making for some mysterions operation of a military character, in the vicinity of the colonel's ostensible residence. For he, in the mean time, not less susceptible to the impressions of beauty than ambitious of military renown, finds on an island in the Ohio, Mrs. Blannerhassett; whose charms of person and of mind, produce effects on the colonel, no less powerful than those fabled of Calypso on the wandering son of Ulysses; and though detained "in love's soft fetters bound," yet were his agents active; and none more so, than this fair lady's husband, in the state of Ohio: while others in this state were also busy in the same month, forwarding other means to the same end. Whispers now are heard to circulate the scheme; when rumour gives it the form of a project, to ensure the possession of millions of dollars to those concerned, and to put a diadem on the head of Colonel Burr. Thus reports, running like king's messengers, came,

VOL. II.

A**

though low-toned, upon each other's heels; and implicating some Kentuckians, begat suspicions crude, of their inexplicable movements. Some were said to be purchasing provisions, others building boats, and others still engaging men, without an avowed object. While well disposed, and peaceable citizens of reflection, became impatient, and even astonished, that nothing was seen or heard from the president of the United States, nor from the executive of the state, to remove their ap. /prehensions, and clear up their doubts.

To these, and especially to the president, they looked for information, as to the character of those movements. It was supposed that as he had care of the whole, and was to see the laws executed, and could collect intelligence from all quarters, that hence he could not be ignorant, nor yet connive at any thing illegal. But how could the president be ignorant of what was known to so many others? And why did he not warn the public by proclamation? In this state of perplexed anxiety, the author of the numbers alluded to, signed "An Observer," published an address, in the "Western World," under date of the 15th of the month of October, 1806; determined to rouse the public, and to warn the people of their danger, by pointing their attention to it. The publication will give an impression of the time, and is here inserted, in preference to an abridg

ment.

For the Western World.

"THE people of Kentucky have seen published from the Ohio Gazette, which has its origin and stand at Marietta, and which is supposed to be under the influence of Colonel Burr, a paper in which the idea of disunion by the Allegheny mountains is both openly avowed, and publicly advocated. This is but the idea of the Spanish associates, upon a more extensive scale, and with a more imposing aspect. The man who is held up in front, and at the head of this new plan of dismembering the union of the states, is now among us. While his secret and mysterious movements indicate the management and combination of some plan of operations, which will not bear the public

view and examination. It is announced as a fact, and doubtless is true, that a number of gun-boats and a schooner of a singular construction, are preparing for this man, on the Ohio river. These can but be considered as preparations for some military expedition. But whether it is intended for the Spanish mines of Santa Fee, for the city of New Orleans, or the Spanish territory on the Gulf of Mexico, or elsewhere, is all uncertainty and conjecture. Yet that a blow is to be struck somewhere, I have no doubt.

"We are taught to believe that this man's fortunes are such as to tempt him to desperate enterprises; his genius capable of planning those which are bold and extensive. It is believed he holds no public commission, nor any authority under the Uni ted States. It seems incredible that the president of the federal government should know and connive at an armament or equipment of hostile vessels, within the United States, under the direction of an American citizen, or any other, without public authority: and therefore we must suppose the president uninformed of the fact. We must hope that so soon as he is informed, effectual means will be resorted to, for the suppres sion of these measures, now conspiring to commit the peace and dignity of the United States, with a neighbouring nation; or, what is equally probable, to effect a disunion of the states, and a dismemberment of the American republic.

"We would hope that this will be prevented by the vigilance of the government, and the good sense of the people roused to indignation against those who dare to plot their disunion. We do hope that, upon the meeting of congress, a law will be passed, with suitable provisions to meet all machinations against the union; and to punish with adequate severity all attempts at private armament within its limits. For it is the government which must fix the sentiments of the people.--Without effectual measures on the part of the government, what are the peaceable and well disposed citizens to think? where are they to fly for protection, against the secret plots and wicked projects of the bold conspirator, or the unprincipled demagogue?

"But these reflections open a scene which must awaken the feelings, and excite the interest, of every friend to his country, who duly appreciates the importance of un on.

"We have already seen an attempt made to expose a set of men among us, who some years since were engaged in a scheme of disunion; I mean the Spanish associates. And we have seen the desperate efforts which have been made to suppress the inquiry-to destroy the reputation and credit of those who were making, and those who were supposed to be making, the necessary development. We have seen certain newspapers devoted to the service of the conspirators, and writers prostituted to misrepresent the truth, and to impose falsehood on the public mind. By these means, under the official influence of some of the implicated characters, the public opinion is divided--and the attention of the people diverted from the real object of inquiry, to other matters of little importance to the question. Thus truth and falsehood come to be confoun ded; the distinctions which should characterize virtue and vice are lost, and the traitor to his country holds the place of the honest citizen. In this way is the public mind to be corrupted; in this way are the people to be prepared for conspiracy, insurrection and disunion. When it shall be clearly manifested that the public mind will bear the traitor in high office; that it will frown on those who shall dare to oppose him; and when the sympathies of the people can be enlisted on the side of the guilty then shall we be ripe for revolution--then shall we see spring up among us, such men as the Roman Marius, Sylla, Cataline, and Cæsar. For it will then be evident that the public virtue, necessary to sustain a republican government, exists no more. And nothing but foreign war could keep the parts of the union together; nor would the dissoluted parts long retain, if they should assume the republican form, Such is the lesson taught us by the history of other nations.

"The people, if divided on the subject of union, will be made to conquer themselves, by playing the one part against the other. To divide the people has therefore been a primary ob

ject with the conspirators, past and present. Since "divide and conquer," is a maxim as old as ambition itself. This is the doctrine which the enemies of the American union perfectly understand-it is a principle of which they never lose. sight. Divide the people of any country, and a small military force settles the question of government. Thus has France conquered, as well the republics, as the monarchies of Europe, And thus may any people be conquered who permit their loyalty and love of country to be corrupted. Thus may the American union be dissolved, when once the people shall cherish and support those who are publicly convicted of holding principles and advocating measures of disunion.

"The Spanish association was but the germ of the present conspiracy against the union, as Marius, Sylla, and Cataline, produced in Cæsar, the conqueror of his country.

"In 1788 the Kentucky Spanish association was reduced to a plan which had its definite objects; its views were unfolded by the associates, and happily defeated, at that time, by a manifestation of the public will. But the people were never awakened to a full sense of their danger, and having escaped the mischief, they quietly set themselves down, and seem to have retained no suspicion, but with little or no effort, yielded themselves up to the rule of those who would have betrayed them. While the conspirators, possessing much of the wealth of the country, a great share of personal influence, but above all, most of the official power of the old district of Kentucky, by combining, by keeping each other's secrets, by concealing each other's crimes, and by mutually supporting each other's claims to office and emolument, have contrived to occupy most of the important public offices, under the change of govern ment. Nor has there been any man who dared to oppose them, without feeling the effect of their power and their malice, either in his property, his reputation, or his just claims to public promotion. I do not mean to be particular, but I would awaken the public recollection, to which I fear not to appeal upon these observations. To which I will add another: These Spanish associates have been uniformly disaffected to the go