Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-17


melancholy recollections had rendered dou-
bly, dear to my heart-I left there every
thing but fortune. Circumstances unne-
cessary to repeat, had involved me conside-
rally in debt, and an unsettled account
with the United States, to whom i was pro-
badly indebted between thirty and forty
thousand dollars, rendered it more neces-
sary that | should make some sacrifice to
do justice TO my creditors rather than ex-
onerate myself by the means which the law
provided for persons in my situation, re-
signed an honorable and the most lucrative
office in the state and l embarked for this
place III December 1861 arrived in Fe-
bruary following, having made an assign
ment of large landed property for the be-
neft of my creditors, and brought with me
only sum of about one hundred dollars,
and letter of credit for one thousand
more, furnished by my brother to whom |
am still indebted for the amount these
means were nearly exhausted before the
opening CT the courts. As soon rs ] could
commence the duties of my profession,
undertook them with industry and zeal,
and l soon found that by perseverance,
Should IN a few years be enabled to attain
the objects nearer my heart the payment
OF my debts, and the return of my family
and friends. The profits of my profession
were invested in lands, because their Ger.
tain increase of value, promised speed-
er accomplishment of my wishes. About
two months since, that happy period see
med to approach had cxonerated vc-
ry valuable and extensive tract of land,
from all membranes, and had pointed it
out, to the officers of the treasury as the
mean of liquidatin9 my balance with the
public, had sold plantation to Mr.. Da-
Wis, which after paying an incumbrance on
that and other tracts, left me his mortgage
for the sum of twelve thousasd dollars.
payable one half%n one and the other half
IN two years, and l was on the point of &C
cepting offers which were made me for the
sale OF another, These details though tc-
6lous are not unnecessary. It will be seen
that this fund which destined for my pri-
waite creditors, was by its application to
+ that purpose, made the reason or pPeteXt
for the injuries / have received.
On the Goth November, General Will
kinson arrived in this city; having been
on terms of intimacy with him since my
arrival here, | called on him the G.
vening he arrived, he returned my visit
and supped with me, and in the course of
( that evening informed him that Dr. Boil
man had brought me an order for money
! IRON Col. Burr, and expressed my sur
prise as to the manner in which nc could
have become indebted to Mr.. Bolman,
whom | understood TO have been in failing
circumstances in Philadelphia the gene
raj both then, and in several visits which
/ subsequently made, gave me no reason
to suspect that this circumstance had made
any impression, but behaved with his usu-
al cordially to me, which continued until
the very night before his denunciation.
On Sunday afternoon, the 18th Deem
Der, DIR. Bollman was arrested by a mill.
tary order, two other persons Mr.. Ogden
and Mr.. Swartwout on like order were
arrested and confined on Loard of bomb
ketch in the river; these circumstance
with some others of Ito same nature eau.
sed very great sensat ~ on Monday, wher
they we're known but having only slirh
acquaintance with Bnilman, and none what
ever with the other gentleman, | did no
think myself obliged, unless professional,
called upon, to take any steps FOR their re
lease.
Mr.. James Alexander, however gen
tleman who ranks dcservedly high as al
advocate in this territory, made an afTiIa
yit Of the arrest, and applied, rs I hav,
heard, on Monday to one Of the Judges O
the superior court for the allowance of al
h0beaS CORPUS this was refused, and HI
was directed, as he afterwards told me
to make his motion in open court. On co
ming there about eleven o'clock on Tues
day morning the 10th day of December
he acccsted me, and requested that wcul,
join him in an application to the court 70
an allowance of the writ, did not hest
tate to do my duty on the occasion, though
,Ihadreason to believe from the violent mea
isures which had already taken place, tina
/ might oppose myself to danger ] follow
ed Mr. Alexander in a concise statemen
OF the facts, and the writ was allowed o.
Wednesday having been assured that Boil
man had already been removed from tn
territory, I did not urge the return Of tn,
p writ, and at General Wilkinson's request
= it was postponed till the day after, when i
having been understood that the return
was to be made by the general in person
the court was unusually crowded. Abou
twelve O'Clock he arrived and the ordina
~ business being suspended, he arose ant
= made the following return:
. "The undersigned, commanding the ar
"my Of the United States, takes on him
"self all responsibility for the arrest o
"ERICK BoLLMAN, on n charge Of mis-
"prison Of treason against the government
"and laws Of the u. S. and has adoptct
"measures for his safe delivery to the ex
"ecutivc Of the L. SIT was after sevc
oral consultations with the governor an,
"two of the judges Of this territory, tia
"the undersigned has hazardcd this ste
"for the national safety, mcnaced u it