The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1808-01-21 00:00:00, page 5

most entirety on the mode proper to be
pursued; whether to refer the resolution
to a select committee, or a committee
of the whole, or to pass it without refe
rence. No decision was made. The
further consideration of the subject was
postponed till Monday.
On Tuesday, Jan. 5, Mr. Randolph
called up the resolution relative to Gen.
Wilkinson. A discussion ensued which
continued the whole day, without any
decision being made.
[The following are copies of Genera!
Wilkinson’s challenge, and Mr. Ran
dolph’s answer. J
Washington, Dec. 24th, 1807.
Sir,
I understand several expressions have
escaped you, irr their nature personal,
and highly injurious to my reputation.
The exceptionable language imputed to
you maybe briefly and substantially com
prised in the following statement. That
you have avowed the opinion I was a
rogue—that you have ascribed to me
the infernal disposition to commit mur
der to prevent the exposition of mv si
nister designs, and through me have
stigmatized those citizen soldiers who
compose the meritorious military corps
of our country. No person can be more
sensible of ihe pernicious tendency of
such cruel and undeserved reflections,
in their application to publick men or
private individuals, than yourself; nor
is any man more competent to deter
mine the just reparation to which they
establish a lair damn, Under these im
pressions, I can have no hesitation to
appeal to your justice, your magnanimi
ty and your gallantry, to prescribe the
th ? manner and the measure of redress,
being persuaded your decision will
comport with the feelings of a man of
honour, and that you will be found e
qually prompt to assert a right or repair
a wrong.
I transmit this letter through the post
o'fice, and shall expect your answer, by
ijuch channel as you may deem most
pi oper.
1 have the honour to hr, sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) James Wilkinson.
The hon. 'John Randolph.
December, 25, 1807.
Sir,
S •. jral months ago, I was informed
of your having said, that you were ac
quainted with what had passed in the
grand jury room at Richmond, last
spring, and that you had declared a de
termination to challenge me. I am to
consider your letter of the last night, by
mail, as the execution of this avowed
purpose, and, through the same channel,
return you my answer. ^Vhatever may
have been the expressions used by me,
in relation of your character, they were
the result of deliberate opinion, fourtd
ed upon the mojjt authentic evidence,
the greater part of which my country
imposed upon me, the painful duty to
weigh and to decide upon ; they were
such, as to my knowledge and to yours,
have been delivered bv hundreds of the
first men in the union, and probably by
a lull moiety of the American people.
In you, sir, I can recognize p.o right to
hold me accountable for mv publick ®r
private opinion of your character, that
would not subject me to. an equal claim
from Col. Burr, or Serjeant Dunbaugh.
I cannot descend- to your level. This is
my final answer.
(Signed) John Randolph.
Brigadier Gen. Wilkinson.
W II E E L TNG,
Thursday, 21st January, 1808.
The following statement of the rela
tive heighth of places between the Po
tomac and Monongahela rivers, we
have received from Mr. Joel Oxley,
who copied it from the papers of Mr.
Moore, one of the Commissioners for
laying out the road from Cumberland to
the Ohio.
Elevations taken from the horizon of
Cumlxrland, about ten feet above
low water mark.
Feet Sc decimals.
Summit of Will’s mountain, 581.03
Western foot ol ditto,
304.04
Summit of Savage mountain,
2022.24
Savage river,
1741.60
Summit of Little Savage m’n
1900.40
First western water,
1669.00
Summit of Red hill,
1914.13
Summit -f Meadow mountain, 2026.16
I.itt'v Yohogany,
1322.60
1 ast fork of Shade run,
1538.92
Summit of Negro mountain,
2328.12
Western foot of ditto,
1360.50
Vhite’s ere', k,
1195.50
Yoh'ir; nv,
645.00
Summit oi River hill west of
Tough,
1514.50
Beaver run,
1123.80
Summit of Laurel hill,
1550.16
Court-house in Union-town,
274.65
Monongahela, at the mouth of
Dunlap’s creek, in Browns
ville, 10 feet above low wa
ter mark,
119.2&
Extract of a letter to the Editor, dated •
“ Chilicothe, Jan, 9th, 1808.
“All the consequence which has been
attached to the meeting of the Federal
Court at this place, for the trial of Burr
and Blennerhasset,appears to be nothing ..
but smoke. Neither of them made their
appearance. The Court was opened on
Monday. The Grand Jury attended, of
which R. J* Meigs was appointed fore
man ; but nothing has yet been laid be
fore them. They have been adjourned
from day to day until yesterday,( Friday)
when they were adjourned until Mon
day. I Understand that this delay is a
gain occasioned by the tardy movements
of General Wilkinson, who is expected
daily, together with Gen. Eaton. There
are a number of witnesses attending, a
mong whom are D. .Woodbridge, and
mennerhassett s gardener, who made
such a figure at Richmond. Mr. Bibb,
the Attorney for the U. S. for the dis
trict of Kentucky, attends, to aid Mr.
Creighton. Mr. Baldwin appears as
counsel for the accused. Mr. Burnet
also appears ; but he stated explicitly, in*
Court, that he only appeared in conse
quence of their having relied upon hiv
assistance, and his receiving the infor
mation too late to advise them of his
determination not to aid them in their
defence.—It is their object to appear by
counsel, and have the recognizance con
tinued until next term. Blcnnerhassct’s-'
recognizance is supposed to be defec
tive, as it names no time for him to ap
pear. The recognizance was taken ia
Court at Richmond. This defect, if it
exists, is to be attributed to the Clerk or
the Attorney : the people here attribute
it to the Chief Justice / There w ill be
an attempt to take advantage of it, with
what success I eannot judge.
44 The Legislature of this state are tur
moiling in the work of legislation. They
have passed a resolution declaring that
the Judges have no right to decide upon
the constitutionality of legislative acts.
This resolution excited much irritation
both in and out of the House. The vote
was taken in committee of the whole on
this day week, and in the ,evening a fetr.,