Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1807-02-02
! Fran tie National lnte!kgeaeer.

trset Of Columbia.
Mr.. ZONES, the u. S. attorney. pre-
faced his molion On Friday with "a address
70 ,ns,t.llowing efses.
He requested leave TO la:errupt the erds'
nary business Of the court by introducing
a mo,isn relative to subjss. calculated,
from IT'S Importance, to FIX che most ssr.
asst attention, and to excite tas protonns.
est in,erest.
Tive persons have been arrested in q
aissant territory OF the u. S. and brough'
within The jurisdiction of this court, charg.
cd Wits being principal actors in the execu.
ten of an abominable plot against the Uni.
on, aad in reasonable and ssrocicas en-.
terpsize of hostility against she territory
aaS citizens OF these states. The city OF
NewOrlsaas appears to have bsen tbs H,sss
important peias of attack msditassd ia the
srs, Instance by tbs coaspirassrs. Gene.
raj Wilkinsos, the commander ia ehief,
has,ens with his army TO defend the phase.
While exeriing all the zeal AID acsisi1y OF
a yie;lass and able commander, ota brave
and fai,hfu, soldier, TO make every requi.
site military preparation against assaults
from without, he deseess eersala em'ssa-
ries within the very walls ct his ier'ress,
engaged ia the most criminal and nleksev-
Gus act, of cooperation with tbs expected
assailanis ne orders Erlck Sslllaaa and
Samuel swassous, tive of those emissariss
WHO were supposed to have demonstrated
,ael, treasaaas.e purpose by sas 1ess ua-
eosivccal sc,s, to be seized aud sent to the
seat Of soveramen, under military guard.
I'm aeaia.ely on their arrival It is deter
mined by the executive government TO
transfer the custody of the prisoners iron
the military to the civil power.
There is 40 reason TO deubc the aathori,
" of military cemnaader, actually e.
eaeea ia tn. supsrsssion OF a reasonable
enterprise against the U. S. 70 ssise upoa
traitors whom he dssec,s, aagran,e delicio,
and 10 desais them securely I'LL they car
be subjected to Judicial process aad eSami-
naien, bu, thar authority arising from ne
CO ssi,y ard the exigencies of the publ
safety. must sesss when en- opPss'uRi'yof
fers for ,ha qulst sad senvenIens, aad at
the sams time efficient administration ST
justice in tae ordinary way. Il is there
fore that, wilhsus hesitation or delay, 10.
s,ruc,ions are given instantly to nave this
cont fsr judicial warrant 10 arfsst those
perssss and place them in the custody Of
the law. Ia support Of this masion two
dspssi,;ons, solsxngy swsrn by general
W:lsinssn, would be rssd TO the Court.
These documents will explain the grounds
uesn which he proceeded to arrest asd de-
tain the priseaers.
Mr.. jsses observed that owing TO tbs
sudden and unexpected naascr III WHICH
this task hsd dsvolVed uPsn hin, he had
act evea perussd these deeemsnts emu
could therefore spprise the court OF their
son,eats 10 no otasg way than sy fesaiog
theta 10 evidence.
[Two deposiioss ef general Wilkinson
were Their read 70 the court, both Of wkish
have bsea pablished in ,hs Naslonsl ia
telligescer, aeesaspssisa by sas prssi,
CENTS messages of the 22d ans S4ih CT
January
The court, after examining tbs dspasi-
,ions, enquired of Mr.. Jones win wsas
specific offence he proposed ths prisoners
shoal6 be charged In the warraas!
Hs answered "1 accuse them CT the
crime of treason against the Y. States,
and move that they be arrested spsn that
charge"
rhs cour, suggested ,ha, the DISPOSITIONS
read in evidence, might apply either 10
sharge eff treason, of misprlsoa OF lreason,
or TO ehsrge Of violating the act Of Goa
gre.s whisb prohibits the setting an fsst
military expeditions against forslsa IA.
.,isas. If treasea be made the sScciks
charge, is there any evidence OF an actual
lsvying of war againss the y. S. wstln the
unssaisg Of the eoss tuition!
Mr.. Hoses said, it was with the almost