Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-03-24

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and in addition to all this, let them remem-
Der, what formidable party there is in
the United States, which wish to plunge
them into a war with Spain, that they
might be thrown into the arms of Britain,
and who would therefore support, if they
had an opportunity, Burr's attack upon
Mexico. Indeed, this same party is so hos
tile to our present administration, and so
DESTROYS of n more energetic government,
that they may well be suspected of wishing
success to Burr's plot of seizing on the pre-
SIdent, and dismissing the congress. Let
them recolleCt what Hamilton and Dayton
said, of giving them good government at
the point OF the bayonet, and that had Burr's
plan been as well organised when the fcde-
ratsts attempted to make use OF him to rid
them of the republican Jefferson, how pow
ertully he would have been supported by
that faction. Let them recollect these
things, and that Britain, France and Spain
would be pleased TO see a revolution in the
u. ). in favor Ofmonarchical S aristccratical
principles, and that Britain and Spain have
long been intriguing to separate the western
from the eastern states, | saw, let our fellow
citizens consider these circumstances, and
they will see, that the "danger has not yet
passed" but is still hanging over them, and
To be arrested, must be 7vatched zvith the
eyes ofan dRGUS. etthemnot hear with
patience, therefore, any one condemn the
honest, patriotic zeal of Gen. Wilkinson.
| III they do, let them be assured, that the
time will come, when no officer will ven
ture TO make the only effort which can save
his country, and that the time is fast APP
proaching, when it Will be safer to join
| reasonable conspiracy, than 10 reveal the
secrets ola traitor. Let our fellow citizens
consider, that they, as the sovereign in these
United States, stand on the same ground as
the king does in Britain; and that the sus-
pension of the act Of Ha6eas Corfius, is as
necessary to the preservation of their sovc-
rcignty, as it is TO the preservation of tie
royal authority in Britain. And that there
fore, Gen. Wilkinson knowing that Burr's
| plot was reasonable, had every reason to
believe that the Habeas Corpus act would
be suspended--nay, he had reason to think
It WAS in fact suspended there, ashe, Burr,
pushed on 10 New Orleans, there could be
no chance OF trying his accomp,ices there.
For my part, had been Gen. Adair, and
rs innocent rs ne declares he is. should
have been pleased with the vigilance and
spirited eXer,ions of Gen. Wilkinson. ]
should have congratulated my country on
seeing 1t capable OF crushing & daring con-
spracy, unrestrained by legal quibbles, and
a contemphbly erroneous application Of
law intended to preserve the people from
a tyrant's oppression Yes, fellow citizens,
| think it better that fifty innocent men
should be suspe cted of treason. and denied
the benefit Of the Habeas Corpus act, than
| that one traitor should escape conviction
and punishment. 1t is an amiable but err
romeo Gus maxim of Sir Matthew Hale, ]
think, that ten guilty persons had better
be acqu tied than one innocent person should
DE executed" For the ten guilty per- ms
generally come 20 the gaiiows at last, after
doing Infinite mischief TO the innocent, and
| leading 10 destruction hundreds of badly
| disposed persons. But what reg ri can a.
ny one have for our country and its happy
constitution, who would discourage such
! communications as were made by Genls
! Wilkinson and Eaton, and such exertions as
were made by the former. to crush what
lie kre7o was damnable reasonable con-
spiracy against the United Statesl Yes,
he knew IL, and some of Burr's friends fool
lShly have charged the general with betrav-
ing the secret confided to him-whilst o.
theirs believing that he would cooperate
with Burr, announced to the world the cap
( ture OF New Orleans All Burr's friends,
and even his son-in-law, Mr.. Aston, con-
! tess, that he had resolved 70 attack GIe1ico,
IN case of a zyar 7yith Shuin-and, Adair
declares, that Barr calculated with certain
", as well from Tire PoLTC7- ofthe measure,
at this time, (mark this citizens,) as from
the positive assurance of Wilkinson, who
seemed to have the power to force it in his
own hands, (that is to force his country in
to war with Spain, France, Holland and
ltaly) "and this continued to be the object
OF Col Burr, until he heard of the shameful
and Ue7ai bargain. made by Wilkinson at
the Sabine river" Attend to these ex-
pressions, fellow citizens, and you will dis.
cover them Adair's modification at the
! disappointment of his wishes and expecta-
ton, that Burr would at least be furnished
with plausible preteXt for invading Mex
ico But can any one really believe that
mad not the presidents proclamation and
me vIrtuous, energetic exertions ofthc state
OF OHIO, given a serious check to MS recciv-
ing any supplies from above, and the pa
trlotic determination of Kentucky, Tennes-
see, and the Mississippi Territory, cut off
all hopes OF furnishing troops with neces-
sarles below, and had not Gen. Wilkinson
and the governor of New Orleans, sworn 10
oppose him, and were actively engaged in
making preparations for vigorous resist
! ance by land and water; say, had not Burr
found himself in this unexpected, embar-
RAISING situation, can any one really believe
! That he would have waited for war with
spain, 70 serve as an apology for his inva-
! sion OF Mexico, is Mexico was his object.
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