Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-14

commended that they had 4 right to go to-
wards this object with just such preparati-
ons as they thought proper. This was an
opinion in which ] did not acquiesce. !
made few enquiries but he admitted
in the course of conversation, that he was
building boats for the expedition in which
he was engaged with col Burr that he was
engaging young men, single and without ia
miles to 20 down armed he said they would
= have no cannon, but they YOU d have rifles.
He stated in the course Of conversation, the
use to which these rifles light be applied ::
TO resist the Indians S Spaniards or to kill
game. 1t is justice TO Mr. BlenuerhaSset to
add, that he said, he did not solicit men to
go; thathe took such only as pleased to go |;
and that he did not expect more than three
hundred men would SO with him. He sta
ted also that he was engaging provisions
for this same expedition. From what Ihad
heard after my arrival at Marietta, and
from the manner in which Mr. Blcnncrhas-
set entered my room and made these conn
munications, | was rather induced to be-
lieve that ne conceived me to be one of the
party. .. Why from his manner? a. MY
acquaintance with him before was slight !;
and yet he was extremely polite to me and
expressed how happy he would be at see
ing me in his own house. For reasons which
u 10 unnecessary W LAKE up INC IiInc OF tne
court with, was anxious 20 undeceive Mr.
Blennerhasset. l asked INN, ifhe had sta
ted that was one of the party. He said,
that he had; and that he had understood
so from col Burr. When / assured him,
was not, he expressed considerable sur
prize, not by verbal declarations but bv the
marked air OF his countenance, He obser-
we'd to me that did not know col. Burr, s.
passed some eulogiums upon him; and as
ked me in i very imprc SSive manner, whc-
Their had not heard of an association in n.
Orleans for tae invasion of Mexico. told
lin, that | had not, and l ventircd to as.
Sure him, that there was no such asSocia-
ton there. He told me- that there certain.
lly was, and that about three hundred men
had signed TO such an association, think
that was his expression, for the purpose o
invading MeWco. After I had repeated
my thorough conviction, that there was none
such, and assigned the fact fhis being de
ceived about me as presumptive reason
why I've should be deceived about Others, ht
tod me that he had obtained this informa
ton from Mr. Bradford.
Considering Mr. Blennerhasset at tha
time as n d-luded man, / cndeavored t,
, draw him oil from the undertaking in which
= ne was engaged /; and considering Ihatit wa,
: more the policy Of the government to pre-.
: vent than topunish such enterprises on thu
= Ohio, informed him, that so far from be
: ing concerned III the plan, ! was an agen
, Of The government, auth Orized to enquire H.
{ 20 the racts relative To this enterprise in the
= WesJern country, aad TO take such steps a,
Z might be necessary tor depressing it. Liner
= seated t. him, from reasons drawn from col
Burr-s visit to New Orleans in the precc.
l ding summcr, from the Information which
? government had received, and from the ma
? ture Of the preparations which Mr. Ben
Z nerhasset himself WAS then making, Tvhy
: belieced tllat the object of col. Burr wa!
/ either to attack the territories of the, TIM
I ted States, o. those of Spain ! assured hin
= at the same time, that any collection or com
: bina;iol of armed men on tie OHIO wou.d n
u der these circumstances'b considered AS
: violation of the laws and repressed accord
: ingy. He again contended tnat they had
d right to go down the river, as they though
= proper, inasmuch as they avowed the set
= element Of the Ouachitv which was Il leea
!; object. Though we could not agree on hi
: point, he asked me whether there would b.
;, any objection or opposition made to thos
: men, if they went down In small parties
(; gave him TO understand, that this would de
u pend upon circumstances, but that whei
: they were collected, they would be arres
3 ted, and the enterprise would end in tn
n ruin and disgrace of all those who were con
e cerned in it. 'sis
s During this conversation, stated 70 M
d. Blennerhasset pointedly, that / knew no
T the opinions of Mr. Jefferson or Mr. Madi
n son; that these were my own opinions an
e that ] had power 70 act under the gov
j Eernment % the United States, as oircun
L stances required that was authorised t
e cali ON the constituted authorities of IN
= country, if the constitution was about tob
h violated. Wish the court to'underyant
q THAT was TO consider the moving down tn
J. Ohio, as violation Of the law, aud wa
" then 10 call Oh the constituted authority
n When ! spoke Of the reasons which inab
% enced my belief as TO col. Burr's plans. VI
= Blennerhasset Observed 20 me, that howe
: YER acute the opinions OF gentlemen migl
e be, he and col. Burr we're as well acquair
: ted with the constitution and the laws =
j. the administration itself; & that they kne'
D very well whstthey were about. o. Nn,
y produced this remark A. do not rcco
Vt lect, but perhaps it may have been the al
i guments which mad used 70 show that II
~ expedition was a violation Of the avs NJ
We Blennerhasset said, that he had joined b
oi friends in this undertaking aId could not
to bandOn them, unless they Consented 10 els
e. the thing up; and asked me, ii ne was
a liberty 60 communicate % col Burr tie i
MS formation had ven him. tod him, ]
a. 20 I..