Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-06-24
Mr.. e. Randolph. We are about TO pro-
ceed 10 the motion Of which notice was Civ.


en- yesterday.
Mr.. Hay stated TO the court, the answer
which he feccived from the president OF
the u. S. He read the presidents letter
10 him, as likuwiss letter from Mr.. Smith,
the secretary Of the navy, containing an
authenticated copy Of the order, relative 70
col. Burr. Heread also a letter from the
secretary a, war, relative 70 the same busi-
ness.
MIR z. Randolph. We now proceed on
our motion, SIT. May il please your no
nors, am now about 10 submit 10 your
atssu,ion, the motion which Was noticed
yesterday, The general purppr. OF this
motion, s:r, is to award a rule against gs.
neral Wilkinson, to shew cause why an at
tachmess sheusd-noi issue against him tor
Improper conduct, relative TO certain VIII
nesses brough forward in this case. Vine.
her., cir, W. SHALL be again charged with
an intention to ihjure the character and cen
duct ot general Wilkinson. 4 know Dot
bpt ct one hing.I am con6dent, that this
is very remote from cur design. Sir, we
are possessed Of nothiag but plain fasts 10
constitute che grounds an which we have
founded this motion. We rely, sir, ooly
on plain facts 70 support the purpo't Of his
malloo, and to remove those preJudices,
which may be afaas against us. We only
hope, sir. that he public will be satisfied
Of the prepriety of guarding the iOdsPend.
ence aud tree will OF witnesses in all judi.
scial proceedings. IF general Wilkinson
shall b. incidentally Affected by the Legal
zconse quences and doctrines from the Goa.
sequences which may arise from the present
investigation, he Cannot complain. He has
no reason, sir, 70 complain ct.Whalever
consequences which may result from his
own conduct. It is due, sir, TO the y. S.
u is due to the Witnesses ia question; It's
due;o the per.ons accused, thas any OBJ
ssruction which may have been iaade ~
the haod of military authority, to prevent
the course of evidence in this case, shouls
be exhibited. Sir, we. shall charge gen.
Wilkinson with specific acts, committed
with the express desiga ct. thwarting the
defence of the accused. He isto repiy by
legal evidence, and Dot by protestations OF
Innocence these facts, which we: shall
exhibit agains, him. prefer this course,
air, because after so many EXAMINATIONS.
from shs counsel agains. US, for improper
and unnecessary waste Ut time. VIC may
cot again be accused Of the same crime -
and hope, sir, NO more time will likewise
be wasted by these gentis men in extraordi
nary eulogies, on the exraordsaary merits
OF geu. Wilkinson. There may perhaps,
sir, at future period BE- occasion for
[thcm to bring forward their paaegyries on
he character of general Wilkinson There
msy perhaps, sir, be tune which Will re-
quire all The force Of their rhetoric, and all
the lusre of his ,alsnts, TO defend his con-
duct. Il may be as well, sir, that the beams
of his glory may not aow- bs unnecessarily
dissipated.
The ground, SIR, Of our eharge is this.
that general Wilkinson who is nov before
the court. in a case before him and the
accused, has deliberately used improper
means with the Witnesses. who had bsen
summoned oa the part Of the prosecution,
and 10 consequence Of the sbuse Of militia
ry authority, Witnesses were brought for,
ward to this place. This is our ground
sir have mentioned general Wilkinson
alone, because We wishlmercly to have the
principle determined. The afadatits sir,
upon which We found our motion, are
those OF lisu,eDan, Knox anasChaneellor
Lindsay" 80
Here Mr.. Randolph began to read the
affidavit Of lisuseoant Knox, when he was
up,ed by Mr.. Hay, who opposed iss
reading. An. argument If some length
then took place between the counsel on
both sides, whether the sfsdaviss should be
read. or the witnesses examined In open
court. The court decided for the latter
MEASURE. James Knox was then called.