The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-06-27


lie was accordingly conducted to the Jail of
this city.
THURSDAY, June rs.
ABOUT O'Clock the Grand Jury entered, and
their foreman A5r. RANDOLPH addreGed the
court TO the following effect
" May 1t p!eate the court The Grand Ttiry
have been Informed, that there is in the pof.
lemon OF Aaron Burr a certain letter with the
ron mark of May the 18Th, from James Will
kinion, m cyphers, which they deem to be
material to certain enquiries now pending be.
fore them. The Grand Jury are perfectly
aware that they have no right to demand any
evidence from the prifoner under profecution,
which may go to criminate himfelf But the
Grand Jury have thought proper to appear in
court, TO ak its afiifance, fit thinks proper
TO grant 1t, in making fuch regulation in their
behalf.
MIR. Burr rofe and aAsed whether the court
was about TO give an opinion!
TIE Grief Jufiee fated, that the court was
about to lay that the Grand Jury were perfect
ly right in the opinion that no man can be fore
| ed to furnifh evidence aganft himfelf: he pre-
tuned that the Grand Jury wifl,ed alto to
know, whether the perfon under profecution,
could be examined on other auctions, not Grim
mating himfelf
Mr.. Burr declared, that it would he impoiIi-
be for him under certain circumstances, TO
expole any letter which had been communicate
cd to HIM confdentially; how far the extremi-
| ~ OF circumstances would impel him to fucb
conduct, he was not prepared to decide {;
but it was mpoflible for him even to deliberate
ON the Propoftion to deliver up any thing
which had been confided to his honour IN.
els 1t was extorted from him by the law
| Mr.. Randolph. We will withdraw TO our
chamber, and when the court have decided
upon the queilion, they will announce il 10 the
q, jury The Chief Jgfiee, knew not that
there was any Objection to the Grand Jury's,
inmmonlng any man as witnefs, who laws
under an indic!ment.-Nr. Martin f,id there
could be no OBJECTIONABLE. Randolph faid he
was afraid that the Object of this Grand Jury
had heen milundernood by the court. The
Grand Jury had not appeared before them to
apply for the perfon of Aaron Burr, hut for
certain paper; which may or may not be in his
Pofleiiion f; and upon that papers being or no,
being IN his Pohrflion, and upon its being poi
iib'e or not pofiibe to identify that paper, ii
might depend, whether A. B. himfrlf was or
was not a material evidence before them. And
then the G. withdrew.
When Mr.. Hay had concluded his argument.
Mr.. McRae addrciIed the court he was foil
cltous, he faid, TO lay communication before
them on circumnance, which had lately tranf
PRED. The G. Jury bad aiked for 9certain
letter in cypheIs, which was fuppofed to have
bsen addreTed by Gen. Wilkinfon to the ac
cuttd. Tne court had underftood the ground
on which the accnfed had refufed 10 put it in
their poHetioH': which ground was an appre-
hehhon left his honour ihould be wounded bv
ms thus betraying matters Of confidence. al
nave Teen q. w. Sir, fuce this declaration
was offered; have Informed him fthe com.
mnnication which has thus been made; and
the general has eXprefied his wilhes to- ne,
and fequeited me to express thofe wlhes, that
the whole of the correspondence between
a. bnT and himtelf may he exhibited. The
accuied has now therefore fair opportunity
OF producing this letter: he is abfolved of ali
pofiibe imputation his honour is perfectly
fate.
Mr.. Burr The court will probably expect
from me fome reply. The communication
which made TO the court has led, it feems,
10 the pretent inviiaton.--I have ouly to fay,
fir, that this letter will not be produced. The
letter is not at this time, in my pofiefIioD; and
Gen. WlIkinIon knows it.
Mr.. MeHas hoped that notice Of his commu-
nication would be ftnt to the Grand Jury
Mr.. Martin hoped that Col. BIS communicate.
on ALTO would go along with it.
The CRIT Jis2ics wac unwilling to make the
court the medium of iuch communications
MIR. MeRae hoped that the court acoulI noti-
~ his communication to the Grand Jury, and
for IN obvious resfon. When the Grand Jury
came into court 10 ak for the paper, what did
the aceufed fay? Did he declare that it was
not in his poGefiion! No: be merely fid
that hoRour forbad him to ldiiclofe it.. The in
ference undoubtedly was, that he had the pa
per, but could not perfuade himieIf to diiciofe
it. And what then NUT have been the impref-
lion on the mind of the G. Jury! A cloud of
fufpicious NUT have faftened themfelves upon
their mind; fufpicions unjufly injurious to the
character OF @. w. and which the prefent
communications may at once difperfe. Ii lis but
jufioe, therefore, to General w. to whom
the enquiries of the Grand Jury may at prefent
relate, 10 give them the benefit of this nfor-
nation.
Mr.. Bur-. General w. fr, is extremely well
come to all the eclat which he may expsd to
derive from this challenge but as it is chal-
lenge from him, it is fuficient reafon why
ihoud not accept it. Bot as the remarks Of The
Iaa gentleman, feem to convey fome reproqch
aganft me (Which no man who knows me can
believe me TO deierve) it may be proper to fay,
that did voluntarily and in the preface OF
"a witnefi, pat the letter out of my podeiIion