The Wheeling repository — Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.], 1807-03-12 00:00:00, page 3

*U1; wnicn is strictly applicable to the
farmers, who would have home the bur
den ot the day. Who, pray, are those
much injured citizens, lor whom Camil
lus so dolorously complains ? Blenner
hasset, it is true’ was deprived of his flo
tiiia, and all hut three, out of eighty' or
ninety deluded persons, prevented lrom
pursuing their diabolical scheme. But
I should suppose, that as the principal,
Vs ,Vilc’ an(* thre.e of his “choice spi
rits,1 escaped, and succeeded in carry
ing with them a large quantity of fetters,
it might in some measure assuage his
wrath, unless he should suppose that the
ms uucnucci lor our iaithlul citizens,
became tile manacles of those who for
gxil them, by the prompt and eilicacious
measures of the state of Ohio. The a
boye and a few other instances, all of
which were justly suspected of a con
nection with Burr, are all that the state
ot Ohio have in any manner meddled
with. And I challenge Camillus to the
proof of a solitary instance, w herein the
lair trader has received the least vexa
tion.
For four months past, (says Camil
Jusj tile country lias been under conti
nual ulai m 8; apprehension, from Burr’s
treason.” And in the next breath, he
blames the Ohio Legislature, for acting
as such a state ot alarm certainly war
ranted ; and in the hackneyed canting ol
tile day, deplores the violation of the
constitution ; and inquires implicit faith
to his bare assertion, (I suppose In- wish
ed to be believed.) lie lias not adduced
one sir gl ■ proof in support of his allega
tions. But susli assurance is common
to every would-be critic.
It is but a lew weeks, since Camillas
mul those m ho think and act with him,
were constantly vociferating against go
vernment for want of emerge and prom'p
tUl1 le, alledging t!i Western country
would be ruined from ih i:- tardiness*;
that Hurr would be suffered to make
lumsell master of Orleans and other im
portant posts, anti by that im ans d.-sti o\
our trade altogether; that the neopl'e
ought not to In- satisfied with a govern
meni so neglectful of their rights and
property; that the Kx u miw s ofth- ge
neral and state governments were highly
reprehensible, fof such glaring sins’ of
omission, llut no sooner was it known
that prompt and decisive measures had
been taken, than these weathcr-cocks
vei r about. 1 hey do not become loud
ud at one ; for although as versatih* as
♦dte wind, their ingenuity could not for a
little time find a plausible pretext. It
was not long, however, before they tho’t
it safe to cast a gentle censure on Gen.
^ ilkinson. I ne J udges at Orleans were
also considered censurable, for not “as
serting their dignity, and maintaining
the authority of the law.” These cha
racters being at so great a distance, as
sertions were safely made to their disad
vantage ; anti as it was impossible to dc
velope the propriety or impropriety of
their conduct, standing so far in die back
ground as we do, refutation was not
feared. Hut these were but minor ob
jects. i he general government was to
b«‘ censured at all hazards, and these
Mere considered as necessary outworks
to favour the general attack/
Bnt one great obstacle still remained
m the way. Gen. Eaton’s well-earned
lame stood between them and th«ir
hopes of successful slander. The oadi
°i hero ol Drrne must somehow be
got over, before the conspirators could
be vindicated, or the shafts of slander
leveled at government. But strange to
tell, the man whom every bodv revered,
and whom man* thought deserving of a
gold medal, conferring the highest ho
nours in the gift of his countrv, for his
zeal, integrity and services, is now to
have his honour and his oath impeached,
to sei ve their malignant purposes. And
on what authority is this patriotic and
war-worn citizen condemned.- Whv,
forsooth, on the hare surmises of a cer
tmn reiu gado by the name of W ood, and
Luther Martin, the very Ives of vice
and brandy. Having ventured this far,
forth comes Cam Him;, and charges even
one with tyranny, who has in the least
degree aided in brii ging to justice any
oi those infamous traitors. And because
the Legislators were not driven from
their seats, the Judges from the bench,
and the mails stopt Irofn pursuing their
<h stmed route*-, he apparently in triumph
say->, “ it may he asked, where was tile
necessity for these acts?” and then goes
on in such a pitiable strain, that a strum
g< i might suppose half the people from
the Olno to the mouth of the Mississip
pi’ v> t ri‘ either hanged, guillotined, or
transported. As for instance,—11 Tin.
< ountry put under militarv government,
—■ 1 he people's lights prostrated,—A
mixture ot military and civil despotism
erected —\ igorous, energetic and op
] H *.si\ e steps taken,— Dragged like a
lelon to prison, —and with such Mom
l-.s t continues to the close oi his essavj
'.hoe in truth, there was not an instance
m
of any person receiving the least'incon
venience, except those who had in some
wa> rendered themselves ■ suspicious ;
ami numbers escaped unmolested, who
u el! deserved to be t^de'en into custody.
I should not have thought it necessa
1 y to have said one word in reply to Ca
millas, knowing t!m sentiments of the
p ople ol this country; but believing the
Wheeling Repository may travel into
neighbourhoods wnere we are unknown,
I thought proper to throw these loose,
ideas together to satisfy strangers that
we were not generally revilers of govern
ment, nor advocates of conspirators : for
whatever pains Camillus may ta};e to
disprove it, I shall consider his essay as
an insidious attack on the one, and as
advocating the other.
The hurry of business must have pre
vented the Editor from observing, that
certain passages in the essay signed Ca
millas, are in direct contradiction to the
line of conduct his prospectus assures us
he intends to pursue. For he tells us,
that “■ instances could be mentioned, to
prove, that even in the solemn public
administration ol justice, the decisions
ot magistrates have been attributed to
party prejudice—Impressed with this
view of the subject, the Editor feels it
his duty to guard against an evil so in
jurious to society.” Camillus savs,uthis
daring outrage on propriety, this insult
<>n due law and the government, the
yiulfses have basely and tamely submit
ted to.” Again,—“ though the Judges
are not liable for damages, they may be
subjected to deserved contempt mid de
testation.’ Now all this abuse originated
in party prejudice, for he has no Certain
data on which to conaemn them.
t he Editor will lie good enough to
give this a place in his next paper ; and
lie may rest assured he will never receive
a line Irom me, involving similar discus
sion ; tor tliis and Camillus are both
known to be improper.
A FARMER.
(hJ“ So mi-, things in the preceding
communication, seem to require com
ment from the Editor. The writer pe
remptoi ily asserts, that 411 pu dishing the
essay of Camillas, the Editor has de
parted froqj the ionise lie had pledged
himself to pursue ; and to support this
assertion, alleges that the strictures of
Camillas on tlie Conduct of the Judges
at New-Orleans, originated in partvpr* *
jiidice ; and that he had no certain data •'
on which to ground his censures. These