The people very peaceably conformed themselves to either mode of assigning the number to be elected; although it is not believed that they would have been so indifferent, on the score of suffrage, or the personal right of voting. The contents of the act itself, was by no means relished, by some of the sanguine, and highly expecting, leaders of separation.

Complaints were made of the delay introduced, by again submitting the question of expediency to be decided, after so many previous expressions of the conventions in its favour. Some of the terms were thought inexpedient, if not inadmissible: and considerable dissatisfaction and some impatience, were expressed and diffused, by several of the leading members of the late convention; but by none more than General Wilkinson. He declared that the circumstances of the country, would not admit of delay: and that throwing off the authority of Virginia; the people would meet with no difficulty in the way of attaining independent government; and the means of taking care of themselves. Which he suggested was essential to their personal safety, and public prosperity-and without which, they were not only exposed to the invasions of hostile savages, whom they were forbidden to invade, but that they also were exposed to the operation of a variety of unjust, and oppressive acts, imposed on them by Virginia-who being, herself, secure from danger, and at ease, had lost all fellow feeling for the people of Kentucky.

As the election for members to the convention approached,. it was given out in speeches, by General Wilkinson, and repeated by his particular friends, that he should address the people assembled at Lexington on the first day of the election in a public speech; in order to persuade them to an immediate separation, instead of waiting the time, and taking the course, prescribed by the act of the legislature.

To some, this idea seemed agreeable; to others, cause of much alarm. An opposition, by a speech, was determined on. The day arrived-the people assembled the speech was made-and opposed.

The particular subject of controversy, was the time of sepa-ration; and whether it should take place by an inherent right in the people of the district, as the general contended; or beregulated by the act of assembly, as the opposition, maintained, it should be.

The address, of General Wilkinson, was to precipitate the actual separation, by arguments opposed to its delay; and by prescribing an earlier day, than that mentioned in the law, for its consummation. His opponent, laid much stress on ́the impropriety, and dangerous tendency of this course. To obviate the force of his remarks, the general, explained the word posterior which may be seen in the act, applicable to the time of separation, to mean, before, not after. And thus cut up his opponent, by adroitly taking his ground of argument from under him.

In reply, however, he was reduced to this dilemma-either, he did not know the meaning of the word, "posterior;" or meant to impose upon his audience. That, in the one case, he was unfit to guide-in the other, unsafe to follow.

That the error was palpable to those who understood their mother tongue-and must proceed from the weakness of the head, or the wickedness of the heart; but as the oneimplied only ignorance, and the other guilt; upon principles of liberality, he was acquitted of the latter; while he was left to his own candid acknowledgment, to extricate himself from the former supposition.

The acknowledgment was not made, nor this opposition for-given, by the general.

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The speeches being over, some agitation appeared among the people; many of whom, and especially those from the remote parts of the county, who were less, or not at all under the influence of Wilkinson, murmured in opposition to his proposition for separation contrary to law. They felt it was not right. They apprehended it might lead to trouble, and involve them in difficulties. Those about Lexington, where his personal influence was great, and where his party for the election was formed, deemed the moment inauspicious to his election

and the poll was not opened for taking the votes, until late in the day: and when opened, the general received but few suffrages, compared with those bestowed on his opponent-all the votes being viva voce, were known-and in a short time, the poll was closed for the day.

The sheriff, who superintended the election, being in the general's interest, and seeing as well as others, that a resort to stratagem was necessary to his success, readily postponed the election, and gained time for concert.

Not more than one hundred votes, were that day taken, out of upwards of five hundred persons who attended for the purpose of voting..

The law authorized the election to be opened for five successive days, and those who were disappointed of their votes on the first day, proclaimed their intention of returning on the last day, to vote. This intelligence, suggested the means to be adopted in order to secure Wilkinson's election. Recourse was had to the militia officers, who to favour his project, and doubtless preferring his election, ordered musters on the last day of the election, in such parts of the county, as were thought to be unfavourable to him; to these musters the people were summoned, which prevented many from attending the election. While those known to be more favourable to him, were urged to come forth and vote; whereby the general, and those on the same ticket with him, were elected.

It is thus, the people are often cajoled, and deceived under specious pretexts, and cheated by their demagogues, who laugh at their credulity, and deride their simplicity. The event of the election left considerable discontent, more durable than a sense of mere disappointment, on the minds of those who were opposed to an immediate or irregular, and illegal, separation.

The arts of popularity had been practised by General Wilkinson, with much assiduity, and success.

Whatever truth there may be in the observation, that the way to ladies' hearts, is through their eyes; Wilkinson's experience had taught him, that the way to men's hearts, was down

their throats. He lived freely, and entertained liberally. If he paid for his fare it was well for those who furnished it; if he did not, it was still well for himself and those who feasted on it. He surrounded himself with the idle young men, of both town and country, who loved him dearly; because they loved his beef, his pudding, and his wine. They served to propagate his opinions, to blazon his fame, to promote his popularity, and to serve him in elections: objects of primary consideration with him.

Most of the aspiring and influential men in the country were in favour of the proposed separation, ostensibly, upon legal principles. And most of these, now considered Wilkinson, as the leader; without, it is altogether probable, intending to follow him into that devious course, which he advocated.

It is believed, that the general, was the first, if not the only one, who had publicly proposed a separation, contrary to law. So intent, however, were the leading separatists of the legal description, upon the accomplishment of their favourite object, that but few permitted themselves to see in the late conduct of General Wilkinson, the disorganizing spirit of an unprincipled demagogue. Some few derived apprehensions of danger, to the internal peace of the district, from the influence of a character, in which talents, and address, were made subservient to an ambition, boundless as space, and restless as the ocean.

For, what but ambition like his, whose qualifications placed him high in the first rank of talents in the country, could induce him to stoop to the level of the meanest man in society; to court the suffrages-or to walk the street-arm, and arm, with men of depraved, and sottish habits-but who admired the general-and said, or swore, whatever he deemed necessary, or they imagined conducive, to his fame, or his purpose.

In the other parts of the country, the elections produced little, or no agitation. The requisite number of members were every where chosen; while the people, by this time, familiarized to the idea of separation, awaited the decision of their representatives in convention, with the less anxiety; as a legal and constitutional separation, was every day becoming, more and

more expedient; and in the same proportion, popular. When no other, was tolerated, by the generality of the people in the other parts of the district; nor yet proposed, or suggested to them, for approbation.

In the mean time, the Indians, from whence, is not distinctly known, depredated on the frontiers; notwithstanding the recent treaties formed with all the surrounding tribes, by the United States.

It had even been thought meritorious, to complain of Indian depredations. And representations had been made by some of the county lieutenants, to the executive authority of the commonwealth, and an answer received from the governor; that he had addressed congress on the subject of defending the frontier; and urged the adoption of some effectual mode of protection, for the Kentucky district, in particular.

It is very true, that no hostile expedition could lawfully have been authorized even by Virginia into the Indian country, without the permission of congress. Although it is supposed, for opposing the hostile parties within the state, there could have existed no constitutional impediment, to the orders, necessary for defence, either on the part of the executive, or the county lieutenants. But the manner, now was, for the latter, to apply to the governor--and for him to apply to congress. That congress should take no immediate notice of this address, is the less a matter of surprise, when the known tardiness, and imbecility of that body, is combined with a recollection, of the treaties, lately made with the Indians. The fact of inattention, was however announced to the public; and served the purpose of increasing an irritation, as natural to the people, as it was agreeable to those who were not averse to the progressivo alienation of the western country, from the atlantic states.

To warrant any specific measures on the part of congress, as to any particular tribe of Indians, some precise information as to the tribe, was at least necessary. To renew the war indiscriminately against all; without knowing that all were hostile, would have been unjust to ask, and inexcusable to grant. No one in Kentucky, doubted, but that every colonel,