Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-14
GlTrutt Court.
MOTION FOR COMMITMENT.
THURSDAY, Sept. II.
Mn. JOHN GRAHAM.


In the latter end Of October last, fecei-
we'd letter from Mr.. Madison, requesting
that / would pass through the Western coun-
try, on my return to New Orleans Il know
not whether it be proper to assign to the
court the reasons of this wish. Ii may serve
however 70 explain my conduct in the Yves
tern country.-Mr Madison stated to me,
as a reason of this request, that government
adreceived information from various quar-
ters thar project was on foot to sever the
union or to invade the territory Of Spain
Mr. UIckhnm objected to this explanation
WitneSs. 1t was to show that ] had acted
in obedience to my duty rs an officer Of the
government Mr. Wjckham. What Office
did you hold f? A. was secretary Of the
Orleans territory. When arrived at Ma
rietta, about the middle Of November,
made enquiries and heard what il may not
perhaps be proper TO state. Mr. Uuval cal
led on me and informed me that MIR Blen-
nerhasset had Just arrived with HIM and
would wait upon me. After passing the IL
sual compliments and expressing his plea
sure at seeing me, lie begged leave TO read
to me certain letters which he had recei-
we'd by captain Elliot Of the Western coun-
tTy, who had just returned from Pittsburg.
latIve1to Comfort Tyler, Deau and Butler,
and the preparations which they were ma
ng for their expedition down the river
what numbei' of men and settlers they had
obtained Mr. Elliot gave him to under
stand that there would be more settlers
than there wodldbe boats for them. When
Blemerhasset received this information, he
observed that they could descend IN his
boats, as he had more boats than men.
Before captain Elliot Quilted the room, Mr.
Blennerhasset handed me letter, which
he said he had received few days before
from colonel Burr in Kentucky! Snail
state my recollection Of the contents THAT
letter? Mr. Nf.Rae. Do you believed the
letter to have been col. Burr's? A.. be-
/ Iieye it was col. Burr's writing for though
/ had never seen col. Burr write, YET y had
/ seen many letters said to be written by col
| Burr. merely mention this letter to show
that it gave rise to conversation between
Mr. Blennerhasset and myself, relative tC
I the contents Of this letter. Tie cOnversa-
; ton was somewhat desultory nor dol par
ticularly Pecollect the order in which the
several topics were introduced. In gene
raj ] recollect, thgr MIR Blenuerhasset anI'
madverted upon the Conduct pursued to
wards col. Burr at Frankfort stating how
ever his belief that this conduct was no
authorised by the government. lie menti
oncd that col. Burr had purchased iron
col. Lynch, think, certain part OF tint
Baron Bastrop's grant in the territory q
Orleans. lie stated also that he was {
have an interest in this purchase, and see
med DESTROYS Of imprcssing on Wy mind
belief, that the object Of his pre- paraticn
was the settlement Of this land, but can
not now recollecS that in the course Of cor
versatiOn he did positively ayow Il. ~
object seemed to be TO avoid an explicit q
vowal but he said, that they avowed tbs
this was their object that 1t was leg,
one, and government would nave no rigl