Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-23


ders but to the body in general. Gen. JpIi-
kinSon. cannot give any definite idea of my
sensations at the moment. / think ! could
not have meant leader, but the leaders.
Mr. WIckIiam. IF you were ignorant OF the
5intentions of the leaders, why not as well
apply the expression to the leader? A. Be
cause did not think could offer any thing
10 him which he would accept. Mr. Wfck-
ham. As TO the postscript, you are un-
certain whether il was written at the time
of the original letter? General WiikimSon.
Though L am uncertain of that, yet | be-
lieve 1t contains correct representation
of NV feelings. Mr. Randolhh. IN case CT
actual hostilties were you authorised to
accept the services of volunteers a. I
should certainly think | had. Mr. Ran
doLhh. And to commission them? 4 No.
But l might have mustered them. The
President has 40 power to grant commissi-
onS, but with the appreciation and consent
OF the senate. j recollect that during the
administration of Washington, volunteers
were accepted. There were 10 commis-
sions granted, but warrahts of authority
which were obligatory in those corps, but
conferred no command over AN officer of
the line Mr. RaHdothh. Ny question is
this. IF hostilities had been determined OF
kinson have been authorised to accept the
services of volunteers? a. think So at
present; but reference to my instruct
ons will more fully show. Mr. Pardolnh.
And to drive the Spaniards beyond the Sal
bine and pursue them into Mexico? A.
Not to pursue them beyond the Sabine q.
Ii the SpaniardS had not made the conven-
ton and reccded from their position on the
East side cTthe Sabine, would You have at
tackled them a Yes. O. From your own
responsibility, or the orders of the govern
mont? y. From specific instructions.
ma contemplated The possibility 0f such an
event, and aac gYcn nv orders according
| ~. (Ghesc orders were not offered in evil
deuce but may he seen in note wy MIR.
EIartin. Did YOU rot drive them beyond
the Sabine? General Wilkinson (sm.!ingl
said it was a sort of driving. Mr. WickhaDi
You say that the first intimation Won had of
Colonel Burr's designs, was from the cy-
! pherca letter? General Tjiiki1son have
said so. But | had received number OF
Ambiguous hints before O. IN what way ?
A. By letter. Q. When did You commun-
cate the contents of this cyphered letter TO
the government! A. You will observe in
my letter OF the 10th of November, refer
ence is made to a confidential messenger,
Mr. Briggs, to whom repeatedly read the
| cyphered letter, TO enable him to commu-
nicatc the contents to the President. Q
| What communication did you make thro
Mr. Briggs was it Mr. Duncan's translate
on \ No. Mr. Briggs left Natchez i'm
mediately after the date of my letter of the
18th OF November. Mr. Duncan's transla.
( ton was made in New Orleans after ar.
rived here q Have you the paper abou,
You containing the instructions 10 Dr sgs
n gave no instructions to Briggs exccp;
verbal ones. q Have you the translation
made by You? A No. l have looked for il
but cannot find It. . Was it before thl
grand jury? A Yes. It was an old worr
out paper. q Was this information by
Briggs an exposition Of the whole contents
a i read the heads to him. and verbal,
explained the C<ltents q Was the letter
completely decyphcred A ] have said no
frequently. have said that the only inter
Ipretation made by me was hastily done a
Natchitoches.
Mr. Wickham. Then you did not relate
the whole contents to Briggs ? a / laid i
before him, and explained the contents a
already stated. Mr. RaRHolah. ! think il
this letter you say, " Miranda has takei
the bread out Of your mouth A No Ycr
are quite mistaken. That letter was writ
ten, believe in October 1905. Mr. Ran
doLhh Admitting it to have been so ia
back, how came it 10 be a matter of sur
prise to you that an expedition was 1T o.
foot according with your own ideas or tina
Iyou should say, Colonel Burr's views wer
not distinctly known till you received til
cyphered letter "A Ihad received n mum
Der Of ambiguous letters from Col Burr
and in letter Of mine to him, / made us
of the expression (" I fear Miranda has ta
"ken the bread out OF your mouth" in or
der to draw from him his real object. q
In what manner did you consider M'rand
: as taking the bread out OF his mouth? 4
t If can state the grounds Of those opinions
= | would say that they were derived fror
; letters received from Colonel Burr whic
: | am not at liberty to disclose, Mr. Ran
doLhh. Was the position taken by the Spa
! nish forces considered by the President q
; an invasion Of our territory A Certain
$ ly
t Mr. M Rae. I understood TINT opinio
q was founded upon what appeared IN M
:, public prints. General UiLkiu8on. III
9 Presidents orders we're explicit to driy
n them ont of the territory claimed by III
r United States. These orders / commun
. cate TO the Spanish commandments. Mr. RAJ
70 dolhh. In the intercourse between yon AZ
j the Spanish commandants we're all q
o forms Of war observed General Wiikii
J. son. In what respect? Mr. RaHdoith. As
:, military Interviews, Ioonsider red this sta
= Of war. a Between Natchitoches & N