Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-20

OF the business would De made but that
in all events, pledged myself most So
lemnly to God and my country, that was
utterly ignorant OF any of the plans which
1t was said colonel Burr was executing, Ell
ther for Remembering the union or con-
travening its laws, except what | had heard
from the newspapers the communication
of general Wilkinson, or public report, and
that had never held any communication,
either written or verbal with him, or any
other person whom l knew or suspected TO
be concerned with him Oh the subject OF
those plans.
There is force in the language OF truth,
there is a commanding aspect in the looks
OF innocence that can rarely be assumed
by falsehood or guilt, and | am persuaded
few, any of my auditors retired with inn
pressionS to my prejudice. The general
seems TO have thought so too, for on the
following day when l went to court to hear
the charges he had engaged to exhibit,
met gentleman OF his family who in an
swer to my earnest inquiry, whether the
generals afidavIts were prepared, told me
that intelligence had arrived which did
not leave him leisure TO attend to them and
that he did not believe they would that daY
tie produced seeing my extreme chagrn
at this delay, he told me he was pcrsua-
ded that the general would feel much gra-
tined it could e2lonerate myself from the
Charge, that he had been forced into the
accusation by imperious circumstances, but
that he had little doubt, If 7 could remove
ms suspicious as to the payment 0fthc mo-
ney to Bollman (Which he added was the
principal circumstance that he would be
ready to do me ample justice and con-
cinIied by suggesting the propriety Of cal
/ nm hr. I D
bur said that | would reflect on the other
proposition and after consulting with some
friends, | determined 10 send the papers
mad read i'll court, with some others, which
was sure must remove every doubt as TO
the nature of the transaction. Meeting
the gentleman shortly a".cr, told him my
determination, and he appointed an hour
to call on me for the documents, and eX-
pressed Joy which am sure he felt, on
the prospect of an arrangement that would
do full Justice to my character. He arVi-
we'd some time after the hour appointed,
but apNlogizeI for the DELAY bv stating that
he had since been to the general, that he
was DESTROYS to do me justice, was an;ti-
Gus that ] should cXoncrate myself from
the charge, but that it was absolutely ne
cessary he should see me in order to show
some papers which had not been cxhibi-
ted and which l understood, were TO ex-
plain the reasons why he had thought him
self obliged 10 accuse me; bat that the
payment ofthe money to Bollman was still
the principal charge, and this being ex-
| planned, he wOulG almost venture to pledge
himself, that general Wilkinson would APP
pear in an open court, to be called at his
request, and make any statement j could
reasonably desire, to remove the effect of
his charge. The idea of presenting my
self, and making explanations TO a man
/ who had so cruelty injured ME, appeared
at first too degrading to be borne, but the
pain which these accusations must give TO
/ my friends at a distance, the humiliating
circumstances attending a newspaper as
scrtion of innocence, the certainty that it
could never be so efectual as by the mode
proposed; and (shall / be called pusillani-
nous when add) the fear Of inevitable ru-
in to nv family from military arrest and
removal, all concuTed to produce the re-
!luctant assent, which, after delay of some
hours, gave to the proposition of calling
at head quarters in company with friend.
Eight in the evening was the hour appoin-
ted. The gentleman to whom | before al
'luded, was so perfectly persuaded that the
visit would end in the most satisfactory
arrangement, and expressed so friendly Il
pleasure in the prospect that could scarce
-, " believe him in earnest, when, at the
hour appointed, with n modification he
did not attempt to conceal, he met me on
the gallery at head quarters with mes
sage -"That the general had received q
letter that determined him not to see MIR
Livingston or any of his friends" This
cruel insult added 60 injuries ! had recci.
vctk made me feel the humiliation to which
I had exposed myself, and | returned home
with the firm pcrsu tsion that / should FIND
1.-The guard for my arrest Stationed at my
door I'm this / was mistaken. AS yet
have preserved my liberty and my life
but how long I shall be permitted to enioj
either, depends upon the caprice Or suspi
cions o. a man, who has upon record de
clared himself above the laws and in oDei
court, asserted the propriety of cutting Of
n member to preserve the body. AT tina
moment had peculiar reasons TO appre
bend violence. Mr.. Alexander and mysel
we're the two counSellOrs who had dared {
question the legality OF Bollman's impri
, sonment We had both been on the sc
cond day after publicly denounced, the ON
. as a traitor, the other as participating j
treason. An accusation had been promi
scd against both, and a few hours before
was insultcd at head quarters, Mr.. AlcX
lander had been forcibly dragged tbithe
e by a military guard. ] had no other cor
s ncxivn with this gentleman than that whic
7 arises from practising at the same ba