Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-27
RI G II NJ o n d:


THE mystery with which Cob Burr
has thought proper TO veil his transacti-
ons; lin conformity with The maxim that
evil always shuos the light,) his refusal
10 produce the letter from general VIII
kuson To him, "pOst marked the 3 ist OF
May" ar 10 accedr 10 the generals pro-
posal of laying al the cor dependence
between them before the public, and
his preierring on al occasions 10 attack
him By ouscure insinua'ions and sunni.
ses, 10 corning forward openly. and pro
duc,ng positive proof; are circumstances
which may nave iesI some vague and III.
definite suspicious against gen, Wikin-
son, on the minds of many worthy ci,i
zens, but ought rather TO convince OF his
Innocence those who reflect maturely on
the-subleci-
The ehole evidence (Nhich might re-
move every dithculty,) is no, before the
public, and therefore unknown to the
writer of these observatinns, who is not
IN the secrets Of Wilkinson or Burr, and
cares nothing for either; except so far
as the good of his country is concerned /;
but he cannot refrain from declaring that
enough has appeared TO satisfy his MUD
that general Wilkinson never dad assent
to any proposal OF colonel Burr TO engage
in treasonable or unlawful enterprlze
tina, he never in any respect drvisted from
his duly, as e patriot, and his honor, as an
officer in the service Of the u. States.
His having invited Aaron Bnrr to the
Western coun,ry,i il ground ofsusplcion
with some, and may require explanation.
Ii is capable, however, OF an easy solution,
without supposing any lmproprely IN his
conduct. At the time when that invita-
ton tool, place, colonel Burr had not yet
lost the esteem Of all his former friends ;
he had no. yet bccoms an avowed enemy
OF the union of The states. and oil ihe IL.
berry and happiness of his country. He
had indeed, been accused OF Intriguing Tor
the Office OF President, bnt This accusation
(aitho' generally believed TO be true by
the repub'icaus,) was supposed by con-
siderable number even oi that party, es
peciall, by those Who had been in habits oil
intimacy with him, to be .Isnderou. and
lmiounaed. The venerable Col. George
Morgan was one of many ohers, who b..
iieqed that Aaron Burr vas an object oil
unmarried persecution and gen. Wilkn
son might have concurred with them IN
opinion, without being justly liable TO any
impu,aiion on his own character. Chi
Burr had, indeed, slain in a duel the &C.
Iebrated Alexander Hamilton, and on that
account was ihe object of the hatred aud
execration Of the federalists; tho now
(for what reason is best known 10 them
seIres,) they have forgven him that and
all his other offences; for, with them, II
isnot charity, but hostility to the present
administration which coVsFeth null
1udc of sins. He was driven by that IA
cal even, from The state of New York, anC
forced TO seek an asylum elsewhere. /:
il wonderful that, under these circum
stances. general Wilkiusou (whn had CO..
responded with him long before, aid NJ
doubt had been induced from the smoo.h
ness and plausibiiily Of his manners, tC
entertain fayorab!e opinion of him
should have regarded him as great maj
in adversely, and invited him to the para
disc of the west, where new and i'm
monsely fertile county would afford hun
a happy settlement
The general has declared OH oath tina
in the subsequent letters which he rece
we'd from col Burr, obscure hints wer
drop'd Of some great design, of wblc
Mexico appeared 10 be the obJect,) bu
that no eXpiicii communications was eve
made to him previous 10 that by M
SlOart5pout- Until then he had no req
son to suspect that col. Burr intended /
play The part Of a traitor. The probab
lily of war with Spain being very grea
he had reason 10 imagine that the infeut
ed expedition against Mexico was 10 b
in that event only, and To- be sanct!one
by thc governmcnt-Th These b ing his in
pressions, (and circumstances pla'nI
shew that this description of them is Cot
EeclA there is no inconsistency ia his ha1
5ng sad, 10 the POSTSCRIPT OF letter I
col. Burr that Miranda had takes jh
bread ouy of bib mouth in his having hu
sons knowledge of col. Burr's ostensib
project Of invading MEXICO, in The ever
of wa, aud yet being astOnlshed. as
even iHcredUIou', when the real scheu
al treason and plumber was revealed
him by SVartfvoHf. The .boidness an
extravaganza Of that scheme was sue
that WilkiHson few days alter his rece
wing the cypbered letter, might with gre
propriety, say, in his letter 10 the Pc,
dent, that its "frime moper" was yet u
known to him from the improbable