The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-08-25
CHE Gnqulrer.
RICHMOND, s5fb IivGusr.
TRIAL OF AARON BURR,

CONTINUED BY ADJOURNMENT, AND HELD
AT THE CAPITOL. IN THE HALL OF THE
HOUSE OF DELEGATES,) FOR II G. n
K E II S o " AGAINST THE UNITED
STATES.
(Tts Examinafis" Tnstaay, hrgga STD. s0nfinasd
Examination Of COMMODORE THOMAS TKusroN.
Mr.. Hay. Were you prefer. when the Court de-
lvervd their opinion A. I was. know nothing of
the over. act 9. Does your ,etiu.ony relate to the
taking OF New Creanss n. know nothing abou,
the taking OF New-Orleans My conversations ALTO
ge'her related to the Spsnih territories; the fet
element of lands; to digging canal on the Ohio,
and building of boats.
Mr. Hay then obfervcd, that he had no quenions
then at prefer: Tor Commodore Truxton Mr.. Wiek-
bam Then, FIR, hope may be permitted TO ak
Com. T. In. whether he had not many and minute
conversations with Col. B. and .ndly. whether thofe
conversations related to treafon. Mr.. Whs. The
court knows that there two indictments again(t
the aeeufed. The ~itneGes have been fummoned
proheueuily and it is poible for the profecu-
tor to know the particular point which every wit
ne' is to tenify. Commodore Truxton fays that his
evidence relates to the midemeanor. But if he be
uttered TO ONE in the preent cafe, ought his
examination to be free and complete MIR. Hay Up
on recoieaing the fublance of Commodore Trux-
tons temony, cannot bu, believe that it applies d.
rectiy to the prefer, occalinn 1t bears n;o rong-
ny upon Gen. Eaton's ten;mony. Eaton fays that
the treafonasle project and the mfdemeanor were
intimately connected. Ofcoure what goes to e(tab-
nm the one Of thefe projects, will 70 far contri
butte to prove the other.-Had you not fevera con-
VIBRATIONS with the accufed upon the fbjea of the
Mexican Expedition
Cssmosoye Trrstoa. About the winter of l so Sc
COL b. returned from the Weftern country, and
came to Philadelphia. He frequently in conversation
mentioned TO ME certain fpecuations in Weern lands
'heie conversations were unintereRng to & die
not pay much attention to them Col. B. obferved
that he whed to get the navy Of the U S out of my
head, as he had omething in view both honorable &
profitable which he withed TO diclofe to me. con-
dered this as nothing more than deiire get
htereted III land ipeculations. Thele conversations
were frequently repeated; and fome time in the
month oil July, 1So6, he atsd, that he wifhed fee
me unweded from the Navy Of the u Sand TO think
no more of thofe at Washington; that he wilh-
ed TO fee or to make me Il do not reeollea which,
Admiral as he contemplated expedition into Mex
eo IN the event of with Spain, which he tho't
inevitable He afked me ifthe Havana could not
he eaiiiy taken in the event ofa told him that
1t world require the operation of naval force
| MIR. Bnr oblerved, t5at might be Obtained. He
puriued the enquiry as to Carthagena and La Vera
Cruz; what perlonsl knowledge had of thole pa-
Ses and what would be the belt mode of attacking
them by lea and land ! gave my opinion very free
~. Mr. Burr then afked me, If would take the
command ot naval expedition. afsed him, if the
executive OF the u. was privy concerned in
the project He anfwered me emphaticaily, that
they were nor. af1sd him that suction, becaule
the executive had been charged with knowledge of
N1iraHa.'s expedition. told Mr.. Burr, that would
nave nothng to do with it that Miranda's project
hao been animated to me, and that had declined
any agency in thofe affairs. Mr. Bur, obferved that
IN the event of war; he intended efiabh an indie
pendent government in Mexico that Wiikipfon, the
1n1n
replied, that could not fee how any of the officers
OF the US. could join. He faid that Gen. Wilkin-
ION mad projected the expedition, and that he hmfelf
nsa maured It; that many greater men than Wilsin-
ion, were concerned Tor would join J and thoulands
to the wenward
MIR. Hay Do you reeolea, whether he faid that
Gen; W. had ierioufy joined in it Yes, he
i%,hio' ana many greater. meu-Mr. Hay. / will
AK you, nr, whether at that time, you were in the
sr'iee OF the u s.! a. declared NOT TO be.
MT. H9y with not to wound your feelings, Com
iiooore' ny my queiton; but it is neeeffary to ac-
count to the jury fer the application which was thus
made to you by the accufrd. Did yeu not feel your
iei hurt at this declaration : A. certainly was
Mr. Burr afked me If would not write to Cen
"iiklnion, as he about to dfpatch two courers
to HIM. told him that had no fubiea to write
or; and declined writing Mr.. Burr obferved, that
leveral officers would be pIeafed at being under nv
command. He fpoke highly of lieutenant ZONES,
and aiked me, whether he had not failed with me-
anlwered him that he bad not and that could
give no account OF him, as never had feen him..
Mr. Burr obferved that the expedition could not fail
that the Mexicans were ripe for revet and that he
was incapable OF any thing ehimerieal or that could
iead MS friends into dilemma. He flioved me the
draft oil periogue, fueh as plies between Powes's
Hook and New-York and afked me- whether they
were adapted to the MihiGiPp River and the waters
99npP'y'ng 'n'oit. gave my opinion tina. they
ne aiked me whether could get naval connrudor
to make ieveral copies Of the draft fpoke to ma
val contributor; but he Gould not make them as foon
as they were wanted, and returned the draft Mr.
Burr told me- he wanted thole beats FOR the convey
ante OF agricultural produces New. Orleans and in
the events OF war; for tranfpcrts. knew they were
not calculated FOR traHfports by fea, nor were they
calculated Tor carrying guns; but having determined
NOT to have any thing to 10 with the Mexican pro-
jet, laid very little about the boats But in the
latter eud OF the month Of July, told him there
would be no war with Spain He feemed very fan
gune, that there would. EIe fad, however, if DIFF
appointed in tint, that he was on 4 bargain for a
large tria on the Ouachta; that he intended to in
vre his friends about him TO Ge;te it that in one
rear he would have 1900 families of falhon and
lone OF properly, who would confltute charming
iociey; that IN two years there would be double the
number; and that being the frontier he would Be
ready to march Immediately, whenever war took !
place. have endesvored ~ nsrrste thefe feversI |
conversations verbatim as they pafIed; am not po-
tive however that they bat my hatements are AZ
LEAH the iubAance Of wha, did pats.
QRS9ioHelLy he P,9fIaiisa.