Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-23
GEO. POINDEXTER.
Octot:r 18Th, 1907.
FRIDAY, October ..

FRIDAY, October 9.
Mr. Hickhani called Oil Cen Wilkinson
! 70 produce the Presidents letter apLroy-
ling his measures. Gen ItIIkinSon. By
referring to my papers, discover | have
made mistake l find have no orders
from the President, directing the seizure
os col Durr-thc order is from the Score
tary OF War AMI haA been already publish
cd, directing me to seize the principals IN
the enterprise. did believe had IN or
! der from the President specifically direct
ms the arrest OF col Burr---The mistake,
arose from my misapprehc tension OF the te
nor of q letter from the President ot FEB.
which blends public communications with
private affairs. Mr. W;ckhanl. Have Won
no letter from the Secretary of War ao-
proving your conduct in general terms
A. never had such letter from him The
approval OF my conduct is expressed in
qualified terms. Mr. WickhqB. You wrote
the President about these transactions
was the letter to which you referred an
answer 10 ,hese communications ? A, That
letter IN itspubliC relation merely acknow-
lodges the receipt of two letters from me,
and the arrival of confidential messen-
ger sent TO the President. 1t gives some
ctlons, but generally conveys inEorma-
ton merely.
mr. iNckhGm then apple for the pro.
duction nj this letter. 1t might be irnpor-
tant to col Burr i'll this point of view. Gen
Wilkinson sends on certain communicate
ons by Mr. Briggs, and in this letter, the
President acknowledges the recent of
them. SO that by referring TO that let
ter, 1T was easy to know what were the
communications made TO the President
by gen Wilkinson. dfy Martin. Wei have
right to demand this letter. Chief ms
ace. Il 5 easy To- read the passage, which
reiers tc thr two letters aud TO Mr. Briggs
communications. Mr. TIrfin proposed TO
~, tho letter INTO the hands Of the c. Jus
iicc, who m ght mark such passages as he
might think improper to be read Gen
HlIkinS0n. The letter is in the hands of
the attorney for the United States. Nh.
Z9Gy. /. the court will state those subjects.
10 which the letter should relate to have
any bearing on this case, am ready TO
produce such passages. Mr. Burr obser-
we'd, that he knew Of but one ground on
which public document shoHld be with
held from court Of justice, which was,
that 1t might Contain something relative to
foreign negotiations actually pending, and
the public good required its concealment.
But IN the present case, the transactions
referred to IN the letter might have passed
over; letter 20 0, which is not a public
document, but a private communication
61T Hidrfin. No government ever dared
TO suppress information, which was neces-
sary 10 an individual against whom it had
commenced prosecution. There never
was such an attempt to establish new
principle, as is done On the present occas-
sion Mr. Hay. Mr. Martin asserts that
there never was such an instance as the
present, and that we are attempting to es-
tablish principles altogether new. do not,
sir, attempt TO establish new principles
do aver my confident opinion, thai this d.
per does not III the slightest degree relate to
the present case. ] will not say that the
gentlemen know this fact, nor do saw that
they have other objects in view WHAT eff
tects they may have out of doors :;
what materials of defamation they NAV
furnish to gentlemen of certain way 81
thinking; j know not. But 1 do assure
gentlemen, that when this letter j. produ-
ced, IT will have very different effect.
from what they contemplate. mr. HAY.
then read the last paragraph Of the letter)
Mr. BUrr IF there be a single sentence in
that letter relating TO me, ! have a right
to demand t. Why greater regard paid
to the Presidents secrets than mine Nv
such passages only culled from them as
suited the purpose of my enemies. Mr.
Hay. am placed in an embarrassing ST.
uation. have no objection to the pro-
duction Of this paper; but in my opinion,
II has not the smallest application to the
present case, If this letter ever is produ-
ced, it viii but place the conduct of the
President on that high ground of prophet,
which has ever been contemplated and as
signed to him by the people Of the United
States. If gentlemen want this letter, let
them state ho7v it is relevant, | am con-
tent that you, sir, (the ChiefJustice) should
read this letter, or that any other person
should but ! cannot consent to produce
every paper, which gentlemen may think
proper TO ask for.
Mr. Wirt. These gentlemen, it seems,
arc carrying on an impeachment against
the President Of the United States What
IS their object IN demanding this letter ?
j is no more than vaiuly to attempt to in
culpate the President, and to CRAFTY their
spleen and their resentment against him.
Is that the object? Is Aaron Burr more
or less guilty, because be has approved or
disapproved the measures Of gen Wilkin-
son They wanttoask you which is the most
guilty Thomas Jefferson or Aaron Burr
Are youth trying the President And
even jf YOU were, would YOU not have him
here, and give him an opportunity of an
swering 70 his accusers This letter, SIR,
If ever it is produced. viii show that
the motives Of the administration we're ae
Durc and as proTer as its friends co,,l,,