Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-27


This question, two points occur.--1st. Wine
ther this is a correct copy of "a. certain
lletter.-and IDLY. Whether that letter wa.
written by Gen. Jackson. CHEF Justice t,
Gen Wilkinson. Do you know the hand.
writing Of gen. Jackson A / know it only
lbv comparison. / never saw him write
Mr. Wickham. Did you compare this let
tier? A My Clerk did and he is here.
Mr. 14'RGe. Is it not your best belief, that
this is a true copy of the original? a ]
believe it to be a correct copy. Mr. NJ
Rae. Did not this letter form the ground,
in part, of your conduct A 1t did GER
Itainly influence my conduct. Mr. WIcGham
objected to its being read, because it was
only proved to be a true copy by the gene
raj recollection of the witness Some de-
sultory discussion ensued. CHIEF Justice.
Both sides admit, that it is immaterial
whether gen. Wilkinson's impression Of the
state of New-Orleans were actually true
or false. Both sides admit that he may
iproduce any letter, which is verified by him
! self. But this copy is not proved by him
| to be true copy. There is no objection to
gen. Wilkinson's stating the contents OF this
letter but that statement cannot be con-
trmed by the copy that Is offered.
Mr. Hickman. There is one thing more
to be conside red. The court has not come
to any positive decision as to the letter of
18th November. If gen. Wilkinson does
not produce the omitted parts, by the rules
of evidence, we are at liberty to state and
TO use them, until they ere dsproved. Gen
Wilkinson may, if he pleases, produce the
whole letter at any subsequent period. Mr.
| Hay. The President of the United States
has prescribed the course which should be
puI sued 1t is he, and not gen. Wilkinson
who withhods the omitted parts. Is it
fair then that the opposite counsel should
supply these omissions as they please, and
that their supposilion should be received
as evidence? ChiCf Justice. have alrea-
dy decided this question. 1t is certainly
fair to supply the omitted partsby suppositi-
ons, tho such ought no. To- effect gen. VIII
F, kinson's private character. IF this were
trial in chief, shoude perhaps think my
self bound to continue the cause, on account
Of the Withholding the parts Of this paper
and certainly cannot exclude the inlercn-
ces which gentlemen may draw from the
omissions.
/ Gen. HitkinSon. have to offer, sir, a
letter, from James L Donaldson, which Mr.
Martin called for yesterday. Mr. Martin.
This is only al extract. Gen. Wilkinson.
had no other. Mr. Martin (returnine
the paper) We take 10 extracts. Mr.
Wirt Cn an under key.) Unless it be of mo-
lasses.
Gen HIikinson. Ihavc also another pa
per. II is the extract OF a letter from Mr.
! Covington, showing that the cypher was in
vented in 1894. Mr. lVickh0m Did YOU e.
yer use these cyphcrs or any of them or
any other CIPHER, in CORRESPONDENCE with
the Baron CarondOlet? a No But Imust
reflect on that question before | answer it
decidedly.
i CoMMoDoRE SHAW.
! Mr. UIekbam. Fer what Is Commodore
Shaw introduced? Mr. Ray. Toauthenti-
cate the copy Of the letter from gen. Jack
son 10 governor Claiborne, shown to gen.
! Wilkinson Commodere Sha7v. Irecoiiect
TO have seen the original MIR Bickbam.
You will please, sir, to state its contents.
Fl Commodore .Shazy. Governor Claiborn
sent his servant TO me with AN invitation to
dnper; adding that he wished to see me
on public business, was unable to wait
upon him that day; but saw him or =
subsequent day. when he took letter from
his pocket and Showed it 10 me. 1t was a
letter from general Jackson to himself, and
= had been thrown into the Office by some a.
nonymous person. This letter gave GOV.
= Claiborne a strong suspicion of gen. Will
, kinsOn and reminded him Of tie Ides o!
~ March, and insisted upon the necessity OF
placing Ncw-Orleaus in a state obedience
Chje(Justice. When was this? A Some
. time in December. Chic/Jnstice Did re-
o port convey any information Of troops APP
{ lproachipg Ncw-Orleans 4 Yes Every
e day in December and January rumOnrs
n were arriving Of the movement OF troops on
2 cur :. w. frontiers; and my impression
wax, that every thing Should be done for the
= safety of the city; and that ifgeneral Will
e binsop had not taken the measures that he
[ Ibid, he would have deserved censure.
fl MIR N Rae Cook in the letter i'm his hand
{ DO you recollect whether general Jackson
]. recommended in his letter, that the Cover.
= nor should use every possible means Of de.
1 fence Mr. Wekham objected to putting
y Questions from the letter. CHER JusficC
. You must not, sir, take the letter in youi
: lhand, and propose questions from it. 1t j.
e really Of no consequence whether the Iettrr
e was read or not. No doubt the substanc,
y Iof it has been stated. Mar lPRoe. Hay,
Il ] no right to read over the letter, and af
@ lterwards 60 intcProgate The witness as II
& its substance! tits my object, confess, &
y draw out the substance of the origai letter
Mr. Wickham. In that letter we're thcr
n not strong suspicious expressed against gen
J. Wilkinson a There were Mr. nick
it ham. ] should suppose then, that gen. VIII
E kinson might have easily Judged from tia
J. circumstance, of the correctness of the RI,
e mours which were circulated about colone
,f Burr.