Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-04-17

THE Chief Justice of the United States
has desired us to inform the public that the
words used by him in the written opinion,
which he delivered in the case of Aaron
Burr, import, as he conceives no insinuati-
OH against gen. Wilkinson andnas, more
over. declared that none was intended.
We are happy at being informed by him
self that the construction naturally put up
on his words was that which it was not his
snfenffon they should bear but we must
contend that their plain and obvious inn
port was such as we suggested in the last
Argus of which the public will Judge
When it is considered that virtuous and in
nocent designs do not stand in need of the
Cloak OF mystery and that, if gen. Will
klnsor and Col. Burr had agreed upon a
correspondence by letters in cypher, which
the Chief Justice has declared to be the
most probable explanation Of the circum-
stance of Wilkinsou's being able to decy-
pher the letter received by Swartwout,
the formermust ofcourse have been too init
mateiy connected with the later in his pro-
jects; we trust every candid reader of the
opinion of the Chief Justice and of the OBJ
servations which we made upon it, will be
satisfied that we understood it correctly rs
1t was Tcritten, though not it seems, as his
sion however, as he seems to be willing to
give some explanation of matters, which
touch his character very nearly, to ask him
few questions, which we hope he will an
swer plainly and unequivOcally.
II ne did not intend an insinuation against
gen. Wilkinson in the passage alluded to,
what was his intention?
ii he believes that Wilkinson and Burr
had agreed to corr espond in cuhher, and
that the latter had furnished the former
with key To the CIPHER, can he conscien-
tiousiy be of opinion that Wilkinson was
NOT concerned in Burr's conspiracy, or at
least, that he had not consented 70 assist him
in some illegal project
1.-The believed Wilkinson improperly con-
cerned in the unlawful schemes of Burr,
why does he say that he intended no insi.
nuation against his characterl
Whv did he dine with Col. Burr at MIR
-Wickham's?
Why did he admit him To bail in the sum
of ten thousand dollars only, when he mus,
have been satisfied "from the spirit which
had been manifested" as Mr.. Hay very
justly remarked, that he could have giver
bail in one hundred thousand dollars as ca.
silly as in ten thousand
Why did he accept of FIVE securities iii.
stead of two?
The Chief Justice may suppose that hi,
not answering questions of the Kind pro
posed, would be considered bv his parti
zans as preserving dignifieI silence; bu
he should recollect that the character OF Z
Judge ought not only to be upright, but un
suspected; that, formerly, when ne was
candidate for Congress, he did not scrupl,
to answera parcel of queries submitted t,
him, by friend, for electioneering pur
poses and, surely now, that he is elevated
to the highest station in the Judiciary, how
ever independent he may consider himsel
of the people for his continuance in Office
it is the more Indispensable that he shout,
answer the queries Aforementioned no
for the purpose of gaining or retaining al
office, but from the nobler motive of pre-
serving that respectability which ought t
be insepardble from the name Of the Chic
Justice of the United States.