The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-03-31

Without intending ia the leaf to derosate
from the virtues of the people Of the Orleans
territory, it NUT be acknowledged that inaf.
much asthe major population confias of per-
fons oeforeirn britt, fpeaking a different Ian
guage, aecpRomed to different habits, and born
undsr different government. there was rrafon
TO apprehend that difaffeetion to the u.iou
would, in fuch place, naturally find friends
and advocates. When added to this, it 10
known to be the refort of adseaturers from all
parts of the u. S. many of whom repaired there
for the purpofe of retrieving their broken for
tunes, under the hope Of rapidly acquiring
wealth, and that of this defcription were fine
great defaslters to the government of the U. S.
it mutt be allowed that there was reafon to
dread the influence of fuch alIuring hopes az
: were held out and that there was likewife rea-
fon to believe that unefs ftroug meafures were
taken, treafon might attain height that would
enable it fuccefsfully to accomplish It's deftruc.
tive purpofes.
There 10 one further confederation well Fitted
to excite extreme folicitude-the diltance of
the fcene from the feat of government, and the
total inability, in cafe of danger, to wait for in
fructions from the Supreme Executive autho-
rity. This Circumstance would necrflarily tend
to give confidence to men who.had formed I'M
lawful projects. Con6dipg in the diffidence of
the subordinate officers to call forth the public
furance that they would not be countervailed
by any meafures of fnfficieut vigor TO check
them. Such, in faet, appears to have been the
inprelIion, in this very cafe.
Holding thefe considerations aedfatly in
view, let Us conoi(ely notice the fats, as Rated
either by Wilkinfon or other perfons.
Whatever fufpicions may be afioat az to the
Integrity or credibity OF Wilkinion, for the
reafons which have been already aligned, they
cannot be received towards the invaidaton of
bis tefimony in this inftance. There has not
Oeen adducea (hadow of proof of his want OF
fidelity. He has been, it is true, accufed of
d,fhouefy by thofe charged with guilt, with
the crime of treafon,; but, is not this the firtt
time we have ever heard of the veracity of the
Accufer being invalidated by the teeimony of
the accufed while the latter remained unac-
quilted? Is not fuch doctrine monftrous
We mutt then, on the queft'on now uHder con-
liberation, confider Wilkinfon's tatements, as
well as thofe of every other credible witnefs,
true, unlefs they poiiefs in themfelves grounds
for difbelief.
Let it not be here undcraood that we mean
20 decide on any of the vague charges aledgcd
againit the commanded in chief. They may be
true, but whether true, not, they arc inappo-
fife in this view. His guilt, on former oCca-
fioB, cannot make his prefcnt acts criminal
Whatever degree of thrpitude may attach &c
the former, the latter may be in the hishelt de
gree meritorious. Nor do we mean to- pro-
nounce conc luhvely on the motives of genera
Wiikinfon even in this buGnefs. Let time dc.
veIope them. IF he has participated with Burr
let tae faGts be fairly and fully Rated. But un
til they are, we can only judge on the informa
ton before US. What is the aa.ount of this in
formation!
ITO be continued.