The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-03-05 00:00:00, page 2

gigantic v/'ews of Cot .Burr cm?
now it/sbeJiev ecXj completely
crated. T~he parti colors ofhi^nlqn
ore unfolded fn the fol/qw/ng depqp!
ticn of Gen. William Eaton before the
circuit court of the district of Cotum
hu:.— j
Early last winter, col. Aaron Burr,
late vice-president of the United States,
signified to me, at this place, that, under
the authority ol the general government,
he was organizing a secret expedition
against the Spanish provinces on our
south-western borders; which expedi
tion he was to lead, and in which lie
was authorised to invite me to take the
command ol a division. I had never
before been made personally acquainted
with col. Burr; and, having lbr many
years been employed in foreign service,
i knew but little about the estimation
this gentleman now held in the opinion
of his countrymen and his government;
the rank and confidence bv which he
naci so lately been distinguished left me
vo right to suspect his patriotism. I knew
• urn a soldier. In case of a war with the
opanish nation, which Iroin the tenor of
the president’s message to both Houses
oi Congress seemed probable, I should
thought it my duty to obey so hon
orable a call of my country; and, under
>,nat impression, I did engage to embark
in the expedition. I had frequent inter
views with col. Burr in this city—and.
for a considerable time, his object seem.’
eel to be to instruct me, by maps and
other information, the l easability of pen
earning to .Mexico—always carrying
..oivaid tne idea, that the measure was
authorised by government. At length
some time in February, he began bv de
grees to unveil himself.—11 e rt-j reached
ihe government with want of character
want of gratitude, and want of justice!
^Ii* seemed desirous of in ituting resent
ment ill my breast hy dilating on cer
taln injuries he felt I had sufficed from
reflections made on the floor of the
House of Representatives concerning
r.iy operations in Barb ary, and from the
delays ol government in adjusting my
Claims for disbursements on that coast
during my consular agency at Tunis;
.<nd he said lie would point me to an
honorable mode of indemnity. 1 now
began to entertain a suspicion that Mr.
Burr was projecting an unauthorised mi
sUan- expedition, which, to me, was en
veloped In mystery; anc^ desirousto
drew an explanation from hitn,^ ioFped
edhim To suppose me resigned to his
cou nselHe now laid open h/s projec
cIl£vo#-ut5 W** n£the western country.
Sedating ft frornthe uriop, est Jbf fsf>
ing s monarchy there, of which he was
to be Ihe sovereign,New 6rle.onsto be
his capital: organiTtngaforce©nf/v
v/aters of the Mississippi^:tdextend
ing conquest to Mexico. I suggested a
number of impediments to his scheme ;
such as the republican habits of the citi
zens of that couutry, and their affection
towards our present administration of
got erment; the want ol funds; the resist
ance he would meet front the regular
army of the United States on those fron
tiers: and the opposition of Miranda in
case he should succeed to republicanise
the Mexicans. Mr. Burr found no diffi
culty in removing these obstacles_lie
said he had, the preceding season, made
a tour through that country, and had se
cure d the attachment of'the principal
citizens of Kentucky, Tennessee and
Toui.jiana, to person and his mea
sures declared he had inexhaustible
resources of funds-—assured me the re
gular army would act with him, and
would be reinforced by terror twelve
thousand men from the "above-mention
ed states and territory, and from other
parts of the union—said lie had power
ful agents in the Spanish territory—and
as for Miranda, said Mr. Burr, we must
Inmg Miranda, lie now proposed to
give me the second command in his ar
my. I asked him who should have the
chief command. He said, General Wil
kinson. i observed it wes singular he
should count on General Wilkinson : thr
elevated rank and high trust he now
hud, as commander in chief of our army
and governor of a province, he would
harchy put at hazard for any precarious
prospects ot aggrandizement Mr. Burr
saul, Gen. \\ ilkinson balanced in the
confidence of government, was doubtful
cl retaining much longer the considera
tion he now enjoyed, and was conse
quently prepared to secure to himself a
permanency. I asked Mr. Burr if he
knew' Gen. Wilkinson. lie answered
yes; and echo d the question. I said I
I.m w him well. - What do you know
e i him/ said Mr. Burr. 1 know, I re
piled, 11mt Gen. "\\ ilkinson will act as
Lieutenant to no man in existence._
“ You are in an error,” said Mr. Burr,
« AV dkinson wiH act as Lieutenant to
me. 1- rom the tenor cl repeated con
versations with Mr.'Burr^rwa.s induced
to believe the plan of separating the 0
T nion,whichhehad mentioned,hadbem
communicatedto, ctnd approvedof by
Gen.Wilhinson, (though I now suspect
it an artful argument of seducUon) and
he olten ex press e ctafulfconfidence, that
the General’s inf lusnc^the offer oi dou
ble pay and double rations, the. prospect
©1 plunder, and the acr/bVtiaricU achicy
n»tnt, would draw the army into his
measures.--Mr. Burr talked of the
establishment of an independent tro
vernment west of the Allegheny, as a
matter of inherent, constitutional right
of the people, ;v change which would e
ventually take place, and for the opera
tion ot which the present crisis was pe
culiarly favourable. There was, said he,
no energy in the government to he dread
ed ; and the divisions of political opini
ons throughout the Union, was a circum
stance of which we should profit. There
were very many enterprising men among
us, who aspired to something beyond
the dull pursuits of civil life, who would
volunteer in this enterprise ; and the,
vast territory belonging to the United
States , which offered to adventurers, and
the mines of Mexico, would bring
strength to his standard from all quar
ters. I listened to the exposition of
Col. Burr’s views with seeming acqui
escence. Every interview convinced
i^ie more and more, that he had organ
ized a deep laid plot of treason in the
west, in the accomplishment of which
he felt fully confident; till, at length, I
discovered tluit his ambition was not
hounded by the waters of the Missis
sippi and Mexico, but that he meditated
overthrowing the present government
of our country. He said, if he could
gain '-yer the marine corps, and secure
the naval commanders, Pruxton, Preble,
Decatur, and others, h, would turn Con
gress neck and heels out of doors, assassi
nate the President, seize on the treasury
and navy, and declare himself the protec
tor of an energetic got'eminent. i 'he ho
nourable trust (d corrupting the marine
corps,and of sounding commodore Pre
ble and captain Decatur, Col. lhirr pro
posed confiding to me. Shocked at this
proposition, i dropped the mask and ex
claimed against his views. He talked
of the d. graded situation of our coun
try,and the necessity of a blow by which
ns energy and its dignity should be re
store d— aid, if that blow could be struck
I *,erc at 1,ih time, he was confichnt of
[ the su] portof the best blood ol America,