Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-27


western Country to the pressn: union, was not 70
be shaken that Its dissolution. could not be Ell
fected with the consent OF its Inhabitants. and
that his resources were inadequate, a. yet TO et-
feet il by force. He took his course thea at
once determined 10 seize on New Orleans. plum:
der the bank there, possess himself Of the mill
tsry ard naval stores, and proceed on his eNPe-
dition 20 Mexico and TO this object zli has
meaRs and preparations were now directed. He
collected from all the quarters where himself or
his ayents possessed influence, all the arden:,
restless, desperate, and disafecsed persons who
were ready for any enterprise analogous 10 their
characters. lie seduced good and well meaning
citizens, some by assurances THAI lie possessed
the confidence of the government, and was act
ing under ITS secret patronage prelence which
procured soSue credit from the state of our diff
ferences with Spain and others by offers of
land in Bas,roP's claim on the Vashita.
This was the state of my information OF his
proceedings, about the last of November; At
which time, therefore, il was FIRST possible to
take specific measures 10 meet them, The pro
clamation of November twenty seventh, two
days after the receipt CT general Wilkinson's IN
formation, was now issued. Orders were dis.
patched TO every interesting point on the Ohio
and Mississippi, from Pittsburg to New Orleans,
for the employment of such force, either OF the
regulars or Of the militia, and of such proceed.
BILE them TO seize on all boats and stores provia
ded for the enterprise, to arrest the persons con.
eerned, and 10 suppress edectually the Further
progress of the enterprise. A little tetore the
receipt of these orders III the state OF Ohio, our
confidential agent, who had been diligently eul.
ployed in investigating the conspiracy, had ac-
quired sufficient information 10 open himself to
the governor Of that Irate. and to apply for the
immediate exer;ion of the authority and power
10 h. Orn1i nv
Tiffin and the legislature. with prnmpt;ude,
an energy, and patriotic zeal. which entite
them TO 4 distinguished place in the affection of
their sister states, effected the seizure OF all the
boats, provisions, and other preparations wirhin
their reach and thus gave first blow, mate.
rally disabling the enserprize in It's ou;sct.
In Kentucky premature attempt to bring
Burr 70 Justice, without sufficient evidence for
his conviction, had produced a popular impre:si-
on in mis- favor, and general disbelief of his
guilt. This gave him unfortunate opporiUni-
ty of Fastening his equipments. The arrival of
tine proclamation and orders, and the application
and reformation of our confidential agent, at
length awakened the authorities of thar state to
the truth, and then produced the same prompt.
tude and energy Of which the neighboring state
had set the example Under All act of their le.
gislature OF December twenty.third, militia was
Instantly ordered TO different important points,
yet be dong Some boats (accounts vary from
five to double or treble that nun'ber) and persons
CdiIereniy estimated from one TO three hum
dred) had in the mean time passed the falls of
Oho, to rendezvous at the mouth of Cumber-
land, with others expected down that river.
Not apprized, till very late, thar any boats
were building Cumberland the effect OF the
proclamation had been trusted to for some time
in the state of 7 ennes5se; but on the nineteenth
rs a.
, structions, with those TO the neighborng states
. were dispatched by express to the governor, and
general officer al the western division of the
state and or the twenty third Of December
our confidential agent left Frankfort for Nash.
vile, to put into activity, the means of that stats
, also. But by information received yesterday.
learn that on the twenty.second of Dec r5er
! Mr. Burr descended the Cumberland, with two
boats merely OF accommodation, Carving from
that state no quota tow ards his una n, rul el,eY
prise. Whether after the arrival of the eracla
matien, OF the orders, or of our agent. any ex
ertion which could be made by that state, or IN,
orders of the governor of Of Kentucky for calins
: out the militia at the mouth of Cumberland
would be in time TO arrest these boats, and thos
. fron' the falls Of Ohio, IS still doubtful.
4 On the whole, the fugitives from the Ohio
e with their associates from Cumberland, OF an,
other place that quarter, cannot thr saten serl
S GUS danger 10 tine CITY OF NeW-Ofleans.
n BY the same express of December nineteenth
b. orders sent to the governors of Orlean
c and Mississippi, supplementary 70 those which
S had been given on the twenty fifth of November
. to hold tine militia Of their territories IN readi
u. ness to cooperate for their defence with III
e regular troops and armed vessels then unde
n command Of general Wilkinson. Great alarm
i indeed was c1ci;ed at New Orleans, by The ex
/, aggerated accounts of Mr. Burr, disseminate,
& ,hrongA his ernIssares, of the armies and navie
n he vas to assemble there. General Wilkinson
}. had arrived there himself on the twenty fourtl
4 of November, and had Immediately put into &C
l., tvity the resources of the place. for the pnrpos
r, OF its defence and on the tenth of December
p. he was joined 10y his troops from the Sabine
# Great zeal was shewn by the inhabitants gene
e rally the merchants of the place readily agree
+ ing to the most laudabe exertions aud sacrifice
!. for manning the armed vessels with their sea
,f men; and the other citizens manifesting une
y quivocal fidelity to the union, and spirit of de
d termined resistance TO their expected asSail
r ants.
lie Surn1ises have been hazarded that this enter
e prize to receive aid from certain foreign pow
Is era. But these swmises are without proof o
probability. The wisdom OF the measures sane
IN toned by congress at its last session. has place
US in the paths fpeace and justice, wfh The on
a ly powers with whom we had any differences
e. and nothing has happened since which makes
of either their interest ours 20 pursue ano;hc
r.. course. No change Of measures ha7 taken plac
70 on our part none ought 10 take place at hi
il time. With the one, friendly arrangement wa
or then urouossd AID the la6y deemed ne-essar