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avowals favourable to violent separation, propagated in the previous July convention, and otherwise? The particular con-ference alluded to, was brought about by a call from the doctor; who was accompanied by Colonel John Campbell of Louisville, and introduced, as a gentleman from Canada, who had come to look after land-which had been confiscated in the war of the revolution. Judge Muter, was present.

From the farm of Colonel Marshall, the doctor went to Lexington, where he had a private interview with General Wilkinson; and it getting abroad that he was from Canada, he was suspected of being a British spy: which excited some commotion, and exposed him to no little danger. To extricate him he was privately conveyed, or escorted, to Limestone: and thus ended the only British intrigue ever known in Kentucky. That with Spain, was revived-suspended by one with France and again revived. But of these matters, a chronological order postpones them to future times.

The election of General Washington, to the presidency of the United States, was now confidently rumoured; and the opinion seemed to be universal, that the new government would be put into operation..

The more local affairs of Kentucky, also engaged much of public attention; the elections for members to the convention, approached-both Colonel Marshall, and Judge Muter, again determined to be candidates..

In April, the elections took place and they succeeded. General Wilkinson, was not a candidate; and every thing was calm-every body, temperate. The general, always an im portant personage, could raise a storm, of popular passion, whenever he pleased-and he often appeared to affect it--at present it suited him to withdraw. For either engrossed by his pecuniary speculations at home, and abroad, which left him no time for politics; or convinced by the experience of the last year, and current observation, that the times, and occurrences, were inauspicious to his purposes, he professed to be disgusted with political life, and confined himself to the management of his own affairs-which were extensive, complicated, and em barrassed,

His next public essays, were in the military line. But whether induced from necessity, or policy, there is no certain evidence of the motive. Eyen his after conduct, being ever that of an adventurer, has been too ambiguous to afford any certain criterion. But however he may be for a time behind the curtain, he is to reappear on the stage, and play his part, in sundry future scenes.

In May, a party of the southern Indians stole horses near the Crab orchard. Nathan McClure, lieutenant to Capt. Whitley, raised his men, and pursued the trail out to the ridge between Rockcastle, and Buck creek, where they incidentally fell in with another party--and a fierce skirmish immediately ensued; in which McClure was mortally wounded, and several of his men slightly. Both parties left the field precipitately: the loss of the Indians remaining unknown. McClure was carried to a cave, and at his own instance left. In the night he died; and the next day, when a party came for him, his remains were found, much reduced, and mangled, by wild beasts. This was one of the most brave and active officers of his rank in Kentucky. About the same time, John Pointer, was killed by the Indians; who were pursued by the Horines, but escaped.

Reports of Indian hostility, were now frequent. Early in June, they fired on two men, and three boys, on Floyd's fork. The men were killed, the boys taken prisoners;-there was no pursuit. About the 20th of the month, three Indians came to Jacob Stucker's, on North Elkhorn; and each stole a horse. The next day, a lad was killed near Colonel Johnson's mill. On this occasion, Captain Herndon assembled a company--gave pursuit-and coming on the horse trail, took that, being the easiest followed-overhauled the Indians-fired on them-killed two, and wounded the third, who escaped. The party thence returned, with the horses.

In the course of the month, a man near Drennon's lick was killed; but no pursuit after the Indians was made.

Thus it appears the Indians were on all sides, in small parties, every where presenting danger and death-calling rather for individual repulsion, than offering an object for the operation

of public force. Filling the mind with horror, the more intol erable, as the stroke of death, almost always came from the unseen hand; before the danger was known, or could be escaped.

In the early part of July, Isaac Freeman, brought a speech from the Miamies, dated the 7th of the month, expressing a wish for peace. And as an evidence of their sincerity, they sent by him several prisoners, taken from Kentucky. These were left with Judge Symmes, on the Ohio; who made report to the officer of the United States, at fort Washington.

The middle of the month, a letter dated the 21st of June past, addressed by the governor, to the county lieutenants on the western waters, arrived in Kentucky, purporting that a letter from the president of the United States, had been received, rendering it unnecessary for Virginia to defend the frontier; as a continental force was stationed on the Ohio, for that purpose; and directing that information should be given of Indian depredation, to the officer commanding the federal troops at the nearest post.

Such was the situation of the country when the convention, lately elected, assembled at Danville on the 20th of the month. An account of which will be found in the next chapter,

CHAP. XV.

Terms of separation rejected-A fourth act passed, and accepted--Other proceedings of the Convention-Indian hostilities by: land, and water-Generals, Scott, and Harmar, make an expedition to Scioto-Harmar's expedition to the Miami of the LakeInternal defence--General Scott's expedition-General Wilkinson's expedition--Civil proceedings--General St. Clair's expeditionConvention to form a constitution, elected.

[1789.] ALREADY it has been stated, that the convention of July, 1789, assembled at Danville on the 20th of the month. After some discussion of the terms of separation, which had been varied, as also noticed, the following resolution was adopted.

"Whereas it is the opinion of this convention, that the terms now offered by Virginia for the separation of the district of Kentucky from said state, are materially altered from those formerly offered and agreed to on both sides; and that the said alteration of the terms is injurious to, and inadmissible by the people of this district:

"Resolved therefore, That a memorial be presented to the ensuing general assembly of the state of Virginia, requiring such alterations in the terms at present proposed to this dis trict for a separation, as will make them equal to those formerly offered by Virginia, and agreed to on the part of the said district of Kentucky."

The memorial was accordingly drawn up, agreed to, and transmitted to the general assembly; who readily made the alterations required; but the new act also required new proceedings throughout; so that the separation was referred to another convention, to be elected the ensuing year: as will be further noticed in the proper place.

The convention also resolved: "that the delegates to this convention mect at their court houses, on the October court

days, and lay off their respective counties into precincts, and that each delegate make out a list of the souls residing within his respective precinct; discriminating between males and females, and between those over, and those under twenty-one years of age; and that the president of the convention be, and is authorized, so soon as an act of the legislature containing the alterations desired, shall come to hand, to call the convention."

To these proceedings were added resolutions against the importation, and use of foreign goods; especially those of fine. quality. While great stress was laid on the distressed and embarrassed situation of the district.

After the experience of revolutionary times on the subject of non importation from Great Britain, it is a matter of some astonishment, that the same generation of men, should have expected relief from their difficulties and embarrassments, by denying to themselves and families, the comforts of life within their reach; and which essentially depended on their own exertions of prudent industry. But this was unquestionably a lump from the leaven of Spanish intrigue. It was not difficult to foresee, that such a measure if executed could but increase the distress, as it augmented the privations of the people; and thereby prepare them for the more easy inflammation on the subject of the Mississippi navigation; the occlusion of which, was made the ostensible reason for this self denying ordinance. For under the pretence that the district could not export, as if the Mississippi had been the only channel, it was not to import. Forgetting, it would seem, the communications with the states, although it was through them, that supplies were furnished, and remittances made. It was not the fallacious idea of starving an enemy, as on the occasion to which allusion has been made, that prompted this measure, but the more certain consequence of limiting the comforts of the district, which gave rise to its adoption. For certain it is, that where imports find admission, exports may be effected; and that when left free, they will regulate each other. While the consequence of prohibiting imports, is forever to diminish exports, by destroying the inducement to raise subjects for exportation; by counter

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