The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-10-14
CHE Gnquirer..
RICHMOND, i4tb OcqosEs.
TRIAL OF AARON BURR.
MOTION FOR COMMITMENT.
TUESDAY, Sept. go.
Gen. HilkiaIon's 7cIQimouy continued.

TUESDAY,, oept. ~.
Gen. Hilkinjon's 7c0iuoxy continued.
/ think did mention to them the propriety
of going in the attire of private citizens TO cude
the vigilance of Burr's fpies, many Of whom
were in New-Orleans, and would give him no.
tice of their departure from that place. 1t was
ALTO prudent to fend them in that manner, that
the iealoufy of the Spaniards. through whole
territories they had to pats, might not be excit-
ed.
They were fent privately, for the fuccefs of
the enterprise depended upon it. Mr.. Wiek-
BAN. Did you give them written or oral in
ftruttons ? A. Both. Q. Have you copies of
the written nRru6tions A. Not here. O
VIII you furniih copies Mr.. Hay objected
to the production Of ihofe orders. He faid that
they had right to impeach the credibiity of
the witnefs, butnot to compel him to dfclofe
the orders given to thofe under his command.
Q. Were thtfe orders 70 feize col Burr where
ever they could find him? A. They were fent
on that iervice expressly. think the orders
! were confined to Natchez information having
been received that col Burr had taken up his
quarters there. Q. Were there any orders to
ieiZe him even in court A. cannot fay, hut
prelume there were not. Q. Were any private
folders fent on this fervice ? A. No. Q. Were
any folders fent to lieutenant Jones's gun boats:
A. Infantry were furnihed 20 fupply the place
! of marines in all the gun boats. Q. Were any
'nttructions fent by you that the men in |ieute-
nant Jones's gun boats fhould ae ? A. l gave
lieutenant Jones no orders as he was not I'M
der my command. Q. Was Commodore Shaw
confidered under your authority? A. He was
rather confdercd as co, operating with me but
be had a difcretion of his own. O. Was there
recommendation to Commodore Shaw TO give
directions to lieutenant Jones to take any mea-
fures to apprehend col Burr? A. think the or
ders required him TO do 70. Q. What orders were
given for the difpofal of col Burr? A. The or
ders were that he fhould be put on board vef-
Eel, and fent by the way of New-Orleans to the
city of Warrington. Q. Were thefe orders
written A. believe they were. Q. What
orders had you from the government, or did
| you do it on your own authority Gen Will
kiufon took time till tomorrow to conlider the
fnbje6 and to examine his papers. Q. When
f, you were at New-Orleans, were not letters adj
drefied TO other perfons frequently brought to
| you from the poit-office by whole orders were
| they delivered to you: were they opened, and
with what view? Mr. Hay thought that they
| had no ri ght to ak fuch a queftion. 1t might
| be important between the United States and
General Wilkinfon. But it does not appear to
be proper to interrogate him as to his conduct
any where, unlefs it has fome bearing on the
caufe ; nor can witnefs be afkrJ any quetion,
profecution. If we had introduced evidence
on that point, they had a right TO crofs examine
him. Mr.. Wiekhau. We may fuppofe with
| out impeaching the credit of Gen Wilkinfon
that he will give as favorable an account of his
| conduct as any fanding in his Gtration
may be difpofed TO do. General Wilkinfou
has detailed number of fats to account for
the conduct of col Burri he has taken very
ftrong ground. We with TO thew that the ge-
| Al he
nate col Burr. We were permitted TO ak him
about Tending officers in difguife 10 feiz- col
Burr we with now to prove fome other fei-
lures. This evidence has direct reference to
the cafe of col Burr. Ifgen Wilkinfon took all
theie meafures, it will furely have a tendency
10 weaken his teaimony.-Mr. Martin. We
mean to hew that general AviIknlon is iden-
tined with the government and the govern
Inent bad declared they would jultify him. We
have witnefs TO prove the exprefs declarations
OF the fecretary at war, that gen Wilkinfon
tood low with the government till his energetic
meafnres at New Orleans had RATED him in the
eftimation Of the PRECEDENT. They can only
jultify his acts by fhewing an impropricty in
Inc conduct OF col Burr. The more we thew
hat the contribution has been trampled on & the
rights O! the citizens invaded, the more fbey will
endeavour to New the impropriety of the con-
dnct OF col Burr in order to juhify it. H1r.
Hay. Mr. Martin has avowed the motives of
COZ Burr's counitl to be to identify gen Will
k'nion with the government. Admitting that
| general Dearbornc had made the declarations
| aicribed to him admitting that the Preiident
had formed that opinion of gen Wiikinion,
how Can his anfwer to the cueition PROFOUND
cd have any bearing on this cafe J Suppofe gen
| Wilkinion ihould fay, that in confequ OF
| the expected arrival of col Burr, the agitated
Gate Of the country, and Knowledge that he
was iurounded by the accomplices ard parti-
zans of Barr in New Orleans, he had taken let
tiers from the poft.office land he would only
have. done what he ought) how could it affect
the preient cafe II is manifeft that the anfwer
OF gen Wilkiufon mut leave the quenion be-
tween tte United States aud col Burr exactly
where it was before.--Mr. Wiekbam When
thete quef:ons were affixed MIR. Murray before,
they were thought proper, and he was even
crois-examined by The council for the profecu-
ton. The gentlemen had afcribed to col Burr
improper acts. Now to impeacb gen. Wikln-
fon's credibiity, we thew that be has been gull
ty of violent actS. Is he not interefted to flew
the conduct OF col Burr to be improper, in or
der to juftify his own Mr. Baker. Suppofe,
fsys MIR. Hay, this declaration of gen Dear
borne to be true 7; fuppofe that gen WiIkiufon
did not deferve to aand high in the confidence
OF the government would il not have any bear
ing on the cauie, would il not leave the queiti-
on between the United States and col Burr ex-
atty where i. was before A, one time the
council on the other fide feem willing 10 give
the general up /, Now they ltand for ward as the