Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-20
FROM TIE BALTIMORE AMERICAN.
To the Editor of the american.

10 enc CdIfor OF the american.
SIR,
SUCH is the present disposition of a
party amongst us. that nothing is deemed
too gross to be offered MS argument, or too
absurd to be relied on as information. The
most mlschievous ard reasonable desirns
are scoffed at as inconseouential, discredi-
-ed as impossible, or defended as iusti6a-
DE. The detected and bafFled traitor is
received with transport as the champion of
noerty, and supported by no evidence but
MS own assertion, and i'm the teeth of an
host Of damning facts. hurls defiance and
insult at the authors of his disappointment.
exuits at the inefhciency of our laws to pre-
vent or punish what in any other civilized
nation would inevitably lead to the scaffold
and without even condescepdine to the form
OF SIMPLE assertion of innocence, finds in
IN eag'r and gaping crowd, happy to be-
neVe' ana ready to support, consolation
IN the midst of defeat, and the hope of a
more prosperous enterprise. What is still
more disgraCeful, the patriot who stood
hrm IN the midst oftreason, tempted by ..
very ofer that revolution in her wiIdest
proiusion could bestow, maintaining the
guarded course, which without bloodshed
or struggle, defeated, what from every
intelligence he had reason to believe was
plan to separate these states and dissolve
TINS government, plan purely military. Of
winch p under was the aim, and the sword
the means, whose root was deep. whose
branches were spreading-& whose shade
threatened with its baneful influence the
Ia!res' portion OF our western world vet
'''is patriot mas to encounter present oblo-
guy, and perhaps future punishments as
warning to such as dare to save the coun-
try without the sanction of the Laws
What grief, what indipna tin6 o,nc. A.
heart OF every honest man feel at sucb
reflection. good man struggling with
misfortune has been said to be SIGHT wor-
thy ot ihe gods but TO see villainy trium.
phant, while virtue is depressed, can he =
grateful spectacle neither to the divine
nor human nature
Ill the stupid and hardy assertion of the
arrested be admitted to criminate their ac-.
cuser, and TO countervail impartial and cir.
cumstantial proof of the fact, if the crimi.
nal intent fully established by the decIara-
uon Oh the adherents of Burr, be nozy dis
credited, because they find it convenient ot
hreSent to deny their guilt, there is ~ ~
to every principle ofimpartiaI Judgment ~
Just reasoning. If the air of mystery with
winch an aliedged lawful enternrize hos
oeen conducted; if the numerou emisea-
res and agents dispersed throughout a place
MOI me present aHedgcd 8fiot oTreudez-
VouS II the oath of secrecy administered
10 Inc partIzan; If the labored seductior
OF officers of the army to base and nroa;1
gate desertion of their duty, and n vilIs;n-
Gus robbery and surrender of publ;c ne
perry at Fort Adams, be not admired a,
proof will obstinate disbelief denv tb,f
wilkinson received Il cyphered letter from,
Burr disclosing dangerous project, or thai
o""rt"ou5 betrayed sufficient of the plot
to prove that it intended treason
Or is it Wilkinson and facts which 49,.
to be alone discredited, on the single r.
and unsupported asseverations of the cri'
minated? Nii
why apply to Wilkinson to make hin,
and his officers parties, if the plan 4vas 90
r1cuifuraL?
why not apprize the government If the
pan was military against the enemies of
the United States, and of which II wa. .l,o
intention TO cooperate with the reoulare
IN measures of common hostility a,,a;ns,
common enemy?
why an oath of secrecy for adventurers
to settle the Washita!
why a shameful attempt to seduce the
ofhcers OF the army into a plan incomnafi1
bic with their duty?
why emissaries at New-Orleane. who,
'hT eHPedltIon is to be up the Red River
~ "NCSPV organized scheme, concei-
yea IN mystery, and conducted with secre-
cy, uniting various parties at the same me-
ment at common point, to the terror e.
neighborhood ignorant of their designs. All
the utter CONSERVATION and injury Of the
country which thought herselfmenaced. and
prepared for her defence2 anu
=, hese are quest ons more easily put than
rney can De satisfactorily answered, vet the
-r,es,u OF party and prejudice, incapable Of
~, ny reasoning, or Guiding by sophis-
osn,Alexander and Adair, & the discbaTg.
IF Bollman and Swartwout, and exnI.;aaSS
'SSs, where are the proofs of the consniSSoH
y, ana the justification Of Wilkinson
VI such let it be required whether 81
hitting mat deep and dangerous consn;
'acy TO dissever the union lately existed,