The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-03-12 00:00:00, page 2

,JMii in—r »i ii a>-~ TTf*'CT*^1 ■ ■■ »■•««*•
To •/(:' Editor of the Wheeling Repository,
Sir, : ..
YO'JK correspondent Camillus, can
not <\ j.rccate violent and uncon .tituti
, mors than I do. He can
uo: feel more decidedly hostile to every
description ot illegal or arbitrary con
duct. \\ ith him I lament the unconsti
luticnal proceedings of Ohio, and leel
indignant at the audacious and oppres
; ive o rannv oi Wilkinson. Hut though
the ji’elingv of Camillas are thus in uni
son v. ith inv own, we oilier widely in
of i'. ion on one part oi his subject.
Wlun arraij 11:r.?v the cc ncliict of the
Ohio i.eg’uhui re, he las fallen into a
<•: mmon i nd \c n $ ie\ us ei lie
l : ts the ] r<■ j ! let;, i i tin ir conduct, by
the event, and not hy the information
which tluy possessed on the subject
This is not fair. In certain cases the
respensil iihv of Leg. Tutors, is oi a vc
ry pi ct liar nature. Fhev are < I n
called upon to j •.•'•vide against contin
gencies. In c.-.n g this thev are ncces-1
sarilv involved in an examination of
wlvn i'..- y pi happen. A thot sai cl
event: , which it is inn ossi! he to foresee,
cor.tvoul all calculation.- of ] v< ! a' iiitv.
So that in coin mi Ives t< the
< xan.inatioi. of v. hat might afterwards
happen, they always hazard reputation
upon events which they cannot com
mand. Si oli was tlu- situation of the!
t; 11i(> Legislii tuv in the pres, nt instance: j
; nd !■ >r this rt a >n, their pr<
ought to be judged by tlu evidence1
v.hich was before them at the time tlu-\
lu.ti d.
Camillas fa!u s a dn.v i f the cordi
lion of the cour.tr\ at tha.: time, and in
aisls, not only that there \ ; s •■■.< danger,
but that none coultl be appreln n< eel.—
That there \\ as no danger, the t. \, ent has
demonstrated ; hut Camillas did not ha
v aid this in sertion until tie i .eut was
linown ; nor can he now i na rtain, v. iiat
h Uuence the very measure < to w hi: h he
object:-,may hn\ e had, in produt ing that
e\ . 1 t by v. liicb he condemns them.
W lun he :v serf?, that** it seems strange
that imiili ('anger con’d ha\c been ig -
prehended,” he may be right ; but if lie
believes tin:* Mis j , ition is established
by the facts and reasoning1, which be has
adduced, I am sure lv i, wrong. It is
true,tnat the (dhccr id go\ernnv ntwere
permitted to discharge then l'e.-n tions ;
it is true, that the standard of treason
w as no where ( reeled ; but to infer from
these tacts, that no danger c:;i'/.ed,v.ouh.
r.ot only be disregarding t ie dictates of
common sense, but setting all experi
ence at defiance.
There is no danger so much to be
dreaded, as that which is secret and in
vtsible. -Against an open and avowed
enemy, we nine alwa\ s be on our guard,
and while possessed of superior force,
nun ensile protect otic; elves. Hut who
can provide again, t the machinations ol
an en. my, secret and unknown? \\ hat i
prudence can escape irom the amhushed
assassin: or the poisoned chalice, pre
sented by pretended friendship?
"1 he conspiracy of Cutaiino against
Home, and 01 t!i Spaniards against'Ve
nice, are the most ie mark able in histo
ry • i he ext nt and variety of their
means, the horn r and devastation to
which tiu \ 1. cl, \ ii , in the last degree,
t.rrihle and ahsming. Yet upon the
principles of Csmilht , no danger was
to lie apprehended. i'he standard of
rebellion was never hoi.-.ted in either
Rome or \ enic e neither were the ordi
nary Inactions of government ever sus
pend*. <1 or interru ted.
1 he condition * i this country in l)e
cemher last, ma; he presented in a y iew
very different from that of Camillus.—
On ail the watei of the Ohio, transac
tions ol a seer, t nature were carried on.
lb .its Were budding; provisions collect
ing ; young men of fortune, talents, in
formation and enterprise, were 1 a.y mg
their homes, ami a* -xiating v.ith men
o! dot htful and <f perat .• character.—
i or lift extra ordinary condu t they as
signed did rent and inconsistent rea
son . 1 iv.-se things, uspacious in them
selves, were rendered more so, !;v the
[ daring and desperate character ol the ir
j acknow ledged leader, and !>y certain
novel and extraordinary opinions ys hich
were openly maintained. These are fa* ts
kr.owm to all. Add to tlv*se, the infor
mation communicated l»v the secret a
g> nt of tin Piv idem, to tin* I.cgidatun
of Ohio, and I hmn'dv conceive thei\
was iu :.t ground of alarm.
I he Legislature of Ohio, j ijgmg
from this state of things, and from his
torical ca’h r cnee, might, without either
rashness or lolly, conclude that the plot
u as deeph and ext* nsively laid. The
circumstance, that “ no voice was heard,
which did not breathe an ardent \\ ish for
the welfare ol the government,” proves
nothing. It was i vid mth th*- intention
;md policy ol the conspirators, to com at
theirMcsigns, until it was too l.n to ,1 .
| feat them. To do this, the\ v ould mi
torally i>c led, Sempronius like, to vo
ciferate their zeal for the government,
and their abhorrence ol treason and
I traitors. In this view of the subject, it
was impossible that the extent ol the
conspiracy could he known in Decem
ber; and on this gr -unci l tun decidedly
ol opinion, that it was the duty of tiie
Ohio l.egi iaturc, to take every legal
ure, which would
he neerssaty , to crush a deep and daring
treason.
UUEXNUS.
__
FOR Tin: WHI.l'.I.lN'G REPOSITORY.
AS tli advancement of the Wheeling
Rep isitorv is a matter of some conse
(jti nee to its present subscribers, and as
1 am confide,u that no individual hits its
celebri t vn. ,-eath art than mvseit I must
acknowieih I felt s riouslv concerned
for its progvruv, from observing such
si ntlments ;• nr contained in the c say
sign.-d Camille published in the limt
number—die o s ious intention of whi li
is, to o nsurc v. t onlv all persons, but
tiie general and state y ivernnients, that
were concerned in bringing to justice
Ihirr and his associates,, and to lessen
by progi r men , tl •. neral d< tes
tation tiie conspirator-, are deservedly
held in 1>\ the goo 1 cub/, iv- of this conn
in'. It is true, i■either of th s- objects
are openlv avowed, but are obligued at
in a cunning deceitful manner. It is
well known the proceeding, of the Le
gislature c i the t.itv of Oh; > were highly
approbated >\ tb (-eiicral ( e»\s rnmc ni;
that their eulogium v> as c haunted on the
noor ot Congress, I , on ■ ol the most
able ami patriotic member , that ever
cro ted the ilovsho! i. “ This \ ninqcst
member (>t tb. political laniilv,” is held
up as worth) < u ipie for her elder
-.i U i.it lolh w • n 1 tin s i , one of the
reasons \. l.y C amillns is so lav isli ol his
cenensv tmainst that state, and for wb.ich
ht v 11 not soon forgive them. i”tie
conspirat y is h 1 to have been pitiful
am! < out. ;np.i',1 ; and whv was it so,y
I or thi t l..iii i ason : the active mea
■ 'ires | us it 1 la the state ol Ohio, and
iollovv (1 i.y 1 \ ih- states ol Kentucky
and liaises1 e, and the .Mississippi ter
' i.erv, thv art d their ialamousaml trea
'Ot able plans in eillbrvo ; an i thus by
lh m asures reprobated bv Camillas,
•• ■ el the countrv from the neces . it v ol
an army, and the t fl'usion of perliap-. the
oi tbloo 1 of oar countrv. When I sp >tk
I oi the beat blood, 1 mean the moot us. *