CHAPTER VII

THE SPANISH CONSPIRACY, 1786-1788

dominions

THE Southern territory of the United States extended to the 31st degree of latitude. Below this line the Spanish still held the dominion they had exercised since the discovery of the continent. In 1513, Ponce de Spanish Leon landed on the southeastern coast, and claimed in the name of the Spanish king a region of indefinite extent, to which he gave the name of Florida. Here he planted a short-lived colony, composed of men who had come to drink of the fabulous fountain of immortal youth. Through this region the intrepid and ambitious De Soto had led his deluded followers in their hopeless search for gold, only to find his grave in the Mississippi River. Here the Huguenots had sought refuge from religious persecutions in France, and here Menendez had established the first permanent Spanish colony at St. Augustine, in 1565, years before the English had settled at Jamestown or the Pilgrim Fathers had landed at Plymouth. It was a land of warmth and beauty, of luxuriant vegetation, of stagnating civilization. Soon the vigorous. Americans were to drive out their weaker neighbors, but not before the Spanish king had made an adroit effort to hold and increase his dominions in the New World.

Spanish possessions lay on both sides of the Mississippi River. The United States demanded the right to

Jay's proposition

navigate that river. Spain refused to concede this privilege. John Jay, of New York, secretary for foreign affairs, was most anxious to conclude a treaty with Spain. Furthermore, he was ignorant of the great growth of the Western Country, as Kentucky and the neighboring region was then called.

In the summer of 1786, he went before Congress and proposed a "project" which he hoped would bring about the desired treaty. It was this: that the United States should agree to forbear to navigate the Mississippi below the southern boundary for twenty or thirty years. To this, the seven northern States voted in the affirmative, the six southern States, in the negative; and Virginia immediately passed resolutions in opposition to the proposition. It required the concurrence of nine States to carry such a motion. Nevertheless, Mr. Jay, acting upon the decision of the majority, made his proposition to Gardoqui, the Spanish minister; but it was rejected with scorn.

John Jay

These transactions took place in far-away New York. There were only a few citizens in Kentucky who knew of them shortly after their occurrence. Most of reception of the the people were in ignorance of the truth concerning them. The action of Congress was misrepresented. Already Wilkinson had done

Kentucky's

action of Congress

much to inflame the people against the Federal govern-, ment. Excitement in the District was rising to a high degree. There was no other way of transportation except by water. Kentucky's present and future prosperity seemed to depend upon her being able to carry her

products on the Ohio River into the Mississippi, and thus to the markets of the world. It was a subject of vital importance. A meeting of citizens was held at Danville in May, 1787, to discuss the navigation question.

In the early summer, Wilkinson gathered together all the tobacco and other products he could buy, and went to New Orleans, ostensibly on a trading expedi- The Spanish dition. His real object, however, was to offer conspiracy his services to Spain in order to restore his now reduced fortune. If he failed in this effort, his intention was to turn to England for the same purpose. At New Orleans, an order was given to seize his cargo; but the cunning general sought an interview with Miro, the Spanish governor of the province. He explained his visit. Then he was treated with the utmost courtesy. He was allowed to sell his goods, for which a high price was paid; and permission was granted to him to ship goods to New Orleans for sale.

The evidence goes to prove that then and there Wilkinson sold himself to Spain.1 He bound himself to use all the influence in his power (and that influence was great) "to obtain the separation of Kentucky from the United States, and then to deliver the District thus separated into the hands of his Majesty the King of Spain, to become a province of that power." All privileges of trade were granted to Wilkinson, in order that he might prove to the people of Kentucky the advantages they would obtain by becoming Spanish subjects. A large sum of money was now advanced to him, and in the following February he returned to Lexington, to display the success of his trading venture, in a carriage drawn by four horses, and accom

The Spanish Conspiracy. By Thomas Marshall Green.

panied by slaves as attendants. He gave brilliant balls, and the young people danced and praised the gallant host;

he gave fine dinners, and in the midst of the good cheer and flashing conversation the older men applauded the captivating politician.

Gazette

In the meantime, a most notable undertaking had been accomplished. On the 18th day of August, 1787, John and The Kentucke Fielding Bradford issued at Lexington the first newspaper published in Kentucky, and the second west of the Alleghanies, to which they gave the name Kentucke Gazette. Accustomed as we are to a multiplicity of journals containing a wide range of information, it is hard for us to realize the general satisfaction and rejoicing occasioned by the appearance of this meager, quaint little sheet, still reverently preserved in the public library at Lexington.

During Wilkinson's absence, the fifth convention assembled, September 17, 1787. It held a quiet session, and adjourned submissive to the act of Virginia, after having prepared a petition to Congress,

in which the 31st of December, 1788, was fixed upon as the time when the authority of Virginia over Kentucky should

Early Printing Press

Kentucky's application

sioned to present to Congress for admission into the Confederation of States, by which name the thirteen original colonies were at

first called. John Brown,1 the son of a Pres- John Brown byterian clergyman of Augusta County, Virginia, had come to Kentucky in 1783, the year which brought over so many men who acted important parts in the public affairs of the period. He had been a member from the District in the Virginia Senate, and was now going to take his seat in Congress, to which he had just been appointed. Unfortunately, no quorum in Congress was obtained until late in January, 1788. Kentucky's application was not presented until the 29th of February.

From the opening of Congress the absorbing interest had been the question of the adoption of the new Federal consti