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CHAP. XIII.

Incidents of Indian hostility-Convention of July--its procecd ings--those of Congress Intrigue of Wilkinson, Brown, &c. with Spain, disclosed-Proceedings of Marshall, and Muter, relative to the election of another Convention, &c.

[1788] THE Indians, as if more intent than usual, upon horse stealing, or murder, entered the settlements in January, 1788; and were caught in a snow-two of them being discovered in the neighbourhood of the Crab orchard, were pursued by Captain Whitley, and a party, by their tracks, and both made prisoners.

What was not unusual, they attempted to travel in the night, 'expecting probably to be pursued; but it was dark; and not being able to keep the war path, always a dim traçe, they rambled considerably, frequently crossing it, and evidently intending escape; but being thus retarded, were overtaken, and not being fired at, surrendered. They were kindly treated, brought in, and afterwards exchanged. An example of humanity, the more readily recorded, as it was rare, at least, among small scouting parties.

About the 28th of the month, a party stole twenty horses, on Elkhorn, near Colonel Johnson's mill-they were pursued by Captain Herndon, and some of his men; but escaped. On this occasion, a most singular manœuvre was executed, by one of the Indians; probably the leader. The party, after travelling about twenty miles, halted in a brushy copse of wood, and were overtaken by the pursuers, who came close upon them, before they were discovered, or saw their adversary: which it would appear, by their actions, was at the same instant. Immediately preparation is made by the white men to fire, and at the same moment, the Indians give a yell, spring up, and seem to run in various directions; except one: who continued to yell, to scream, and to jump; now flying to one tree, then to another; now

dodging, then springing aloft-or curveting, as one perfectly: frantic; and all, in the face of his enemy.

This strange exhibition, attracted, and engrossed for the time, the attention of the party, and its captain; so that they did not even fire. Being exactly the thing, without doubt, intended to be effected, by this wily, and dexterous savage.

In the mean time, the other Indians, gathered up their guns and blankets—with which they disappeared; as did also this. partisan hero, in an instant, after his followers were safe. A consequence of their immediate dispersion, and making no trace for pursuit. But leaving a superior enemy to make conjectures, and express their wonder, at the enchantment which had deluded them.

In February, General Wilkinson returned from Orleans, in a、 chariot, with four horses, and several slaves. And soon it wasrumoured that he had made a contract with the Spanish governor, which enabled him to ship tobacco, and deposite it in the king's store, at ten dollars per hundred-which none but Spanish subjects could do. In fact, that he was a Spanish-subject; having taken the necessary oath of allegiance, &c. He forthwith proposed buying tobacco, and let it be known that he had an exclusive privilege at New Orleans; spoke in high terms of the right of navigating the Mississippi, and of a commercial connexion between the two countries-with occasional hints, and inuendoes, that nothing was necessary to bring it about, but the separation, and independence of Kentucky. He had previously encouraged the raising of tobacco,,and was now the buyer, of that article: for which he sometimes paid a few Spanish dollars; and readily promised the residue. This was perfectly satisfactory to the greater number of those who made it; and who could see no other certain market for the commodity: while in others, it excited a disposition to become adventurers in the same kind of enterprise: a few there were,. whose suspicions were awakened, "that more was meant than a mere traffic in tobacco;" but, who, being left without any. certain data, on which to raise an accusation; and still less able to stem the current of popular opinion, now gathering and

running, in favour of Wilkinson-kept their conjectures to themselves, or whispered them to a few friends only. For measures were soon taken, and sentiments, and opinions, propagated, to make the people believe that they were greatly indebted to General Wilkinson, for opening that navigation, which Mr. Jay had wanted to surrender; and for realizing that commerce, which congress would not procure for Kentucky. That the general, had secured the emoluments of this trade to himself, was a circumstance not worth mentioning, among these patriotic leaders.

In March, the Indians, repeated their visit to the frontiersnor was it material as to the general impression, or result, what Indians, or what frontier. At this time, however, it was in the southern quarter. On the night of the 5th, a party fired on a camp of Kentuckians, upon the Cumberland road, and killed two of them: the rest fled. There was again, snow on the ground. A party of the neighbouring militia being collected, repaired to the camp; and thence pursuing the Indians, came up with them, in camp also--and fired on them, but killed none. The Indians, nevertheless, fled in great consternation, without their guns, or packs, in such rapidity, that they were not overtaken. But it was hoped that they perished in the cold; as several of the white men got frostbitten.

Quite in an opposite section of the country, about the 21st of the month, a banditti of these rude disturbers of domestic safety, called at the house of a Mrs. Shanks, on the waters of Licking, and demanded entertainment for the night; the door was shut, their company not being liked-and they refused entrance--the door was forced, four of the family killed, and. the rest dispersed.

The 25th of the month, the same Indians probably, as the two places were not very distant, took a negro, on Elkhorn The 28th, the bridle of a young man on horseback, was seized, by an Indian in ambush-who was compelled to break his hold, and the rider made his escape.

About this time, these savages, in considerable numbers, resorted to the Ohio; and there commenced a new mode of

warfare, much more terrible. They manned a flat, which they had taken, and learned how to manage; with this they intercepted several family boats on the river-and, consigning those on board to slaughter, they carried off the goods. And thus, besetting the great avenue of ingress, became the terror of those without, as well as of those within, the country. These circumstances excite considerable ferment in the minds of the people; which is turned to the account of the separatists-who cry out for power to carry the war into the Indian country. As if, in the event of separation from Virginia, and becoming a member of the union, the country would not still have been under the control of congress, in relation to expeditions beyond its own limits; as were the other states. And as if, any thing, short of a total independence of the federal system, could have conferred the right contended for, by the agitators of discontent. There was nothing in the existing state of things, which forbade arming boats, and driving the enemy off the river-there was no law, which forbade a pursuit by land-yet, little, or nothing, was done, but talk; and that neither, killed, nor intimidated the Indians.

In the mean time, also, another subject of great interest, had been thrown upon the public mind, and mingled itself with the other topics of discussion. It was the federal constitution, formed in 1787, and now offered to the adoption of the American people. It is confidently believed, that the advocates for immediate, in other words, violent separation, of which there were more than a few-were universally opposed to the adoption of this constitution. Many there were who became opposed to it, who were in favour of a regular separation, in consequence of objections which they heard; and others, from the same cause, who were opposed to a separation, on any terms. Of the last, it may be remarked, they had not much to say while the tone of public opinion was certainly given, by the first.

The most common, and ostensible objection was, that it would endanger state rights, and personal liberty-that it was too strong.

While, nevertheless, the existing confederation, weak, and inefficient, was not only a cause of complaint, but a subject of ridicule, to some of those very men. It was, they said, a rope of sand-a sovereign, without subjects-a body, whose head, could not move its limbs-a thing to be pitied, not feared, or respected. This was but too true and yet, that those who set out its defects, should be opposed to the constitution, which promised a remedy for them, involves no contradiction, will be apparent upon the introduction of a third idea, which is to be developed, and elucidated in the course of this history; and that is—a connexion between the Spanish provinces, and Kentucky; under the protection of his Catholic Majesty, at that time contemplated; and known to be incompatible, with federal obligations. The scheme of this treachery, was yet, however, managed with much caution; as the public mind was thought, not to be prepared for it; that it must await events, already in embryo; and, as it was hoped, fast approaching maturity.

The rejection of the proposed revisal of the government of the United States, was, without doubt, anticipated, as an event of the most flattering promise, and importance, by the Span iardized republicans.

There were indeed, in Kentucky, many respectable and well informed citizens, who could not give their entire approbation to the constitution then offered to them; but who nevertheless, were not willing to lose it; and whose wish it evidently, was, that it should be adopted with some amendments. But whether amendments were to be prior, or subsequent, to the ratification, produced a question not free from difficulty.

A crisis, more important to Kentucky, had never occurred. The legislature had authorized each county in the common-. wealth, to elect two members at the general election in April, to meet on the ensuing June, at the seat of government; there. to compose a convention, for the purpose of accepting, or rejecting, the new federal constitution. At the same election, were also to be chosen five members, it will be recollected, in each county, in order to form a convention at Danville, whose business it was, to form a constitution for the proposed state, of Kentucky.

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