Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-11-08

W HE ARGUS, during the wintcr-cS-
Establishment nf thc mails, viii be nubiished
on the mornings of Tuesday and Friday.
The numerous but shameless r,,rno-s.
which have reached us from SO many parts
OF the continent, respecting the transact
ons OF Col. Burr and others, in the VVes-
tern country, are calculated to excite much
curiosity and interest. As the evidence so
Ear as it respects the criminalitv OF the
individuals Implicated in the reports, is too
vague and uncertain II become even the
subject of = newspaper essay, VIC shall con-
me our remarks to the dangers which the
situation OF that quarter of our continent
seems to give most cause to apprehend.
While the population of the Western
country bears 50 small proportion to her
TERRITORY, her extensive, fertile and unap-
Propriated soil, must long continue 20 hold
out to the view ofavarice and ambition,
tempting object ofplunlcr and speculation.
Although the schemes Of which that coun-
try has hitherto been the theatre, have on
ny mad III view the aggrlniizement of srn-
cu!ators By the appropriation OF the soil.
yet these specu'ati0ns have hceTi conduct
cd on 50 im,nc-4se a seats, IS t. be nearly
allied u schemes Of political disncmber-
rnelt TIE means employed bv these men
70 effect their purposes, have not always
been confined to those os a fraudulent n.,-
ture. they have also had recourse 90 plans
otviplence and rebellion. Such plans have
as yet, 1t is true, been shallow in their or
ganizatcn, have probably enaneted from
men of desperate fortunes. OF strong passi
ons and weak intellects. The Yazoo spc-
cu'ation has become sufficiently notorious,
and bears the stamp CT grasainc insatia-
bic nvarice
But transaction Of less notoretv, which
thre atened To effect by violence, what the
former attempted by fraud, was one which
had for its author q Mr. z. Cox. It was
proposed by this association, and men were
formally enlisted for the purpose, to take
1orciol possession 0. a valuable part of the
United States territory in possession Of the
Indians, and portion Of the soil was ofse,-
Cd to each person Unlisted as a reward for
his treason.
With the experience of these FORMER
facts, before CUR eyes, when we consider
too, what An ir>riefsc additional terlptat;
on, the purchase OF Louisiana, has afford
Cd to the cuPid;ty Of designing t,isappoint-
ed anu factious men, we cannot but apnre-
bend that the wilds OF America, viii still
continue to be the theatre of antipatriotic
inclination, and that an association rnav
be termed viewing louisiana as its prev,
which nay call fer all the vigilance OF our
government, and for display OF all the
intelligence and virtue, which the Ameri-
can people so amply possess.
From many and obvious considerations
the writer OF this article is convinced that
nothing dangerous 20 the communitv is to
be unprecedented from any uioieat attempts
on the westerns country, 1t is one of the
last countries M the world where the mate
ll2ls OF an insurrvction could be found. mo-
ny might be disposed to become leaders
but they could find 10 followers. But cn,-ht
rot the federal government to adopt some
permanent regulations TO prey ent the iniu-
rlous monopoly of her newly acquired ter
rltory such regulations Constitute n Part
otthe colonial policy of all the States. when
therc was raucA less occasion for them tliar
at present.
The following letter is extracted from
Che Charleston Courier, and is eccoan,,,i-
ed by pretty long comment from the Edi-
tor Of tliat paper, in which it Is treated as
conclusive evidence Of the hostile DESIGNS
OF the French Emperor on this country.
" is not said from what source the letter
was Obtained, and this omission renders g.
ven its a1tthe1,ticity doubtful. But adnoittira
the otter tobe genuine, we cannot perceive
In it, any OF those dangerous DESIGNS Of com.
quest and disorganizatiou, which the Com
rier lteripnteS to the french Emperor: and
should his plans even assume the form
which some apprehenl, he wouI1 derive
Du' tceble assistance from the small num-
Der Of French and Spanish fanatics, to whom
the letter in question relates. The Editors
OF papers i'll performing the part Of cent?
Dels, to give warning of approaching dan
gers, should BE cautious OF falling Into the
wen known error of the Shepherds boy in
the fable, who by the frequency of his i'm
positions or the credu!ity Of his neigh5ors,
destroyed his own credit.-Ed. Arg0s.
INTERESTING LETTER.
Shortly qfter Louisiana had bee, orr.
rendered 70 tie .4i1erfca,s, M CLyyJ,-
AToN, President Of the Corhorarfou OIL
tde Church of 81. LoUIs, in 6sw-oF.
LEANS, addrcs8ed tefterfo PoRg,trs. |
Me french Minister 9fRrLigious .H6;iirs, |
IN 7Ohteh ne stated, that co7sidera5Ie