Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-06-24
FOR THE ARGUS

in the voluminous discussions and nub-
LEGATIONS which have arisen out of the con-
templated separation of the Western from
the Atlantic country, none has more amu-
SEQ me than letter from New Orleans.
which has appeared III all the Federal ma
perS, & in which it is stated that mules
with Spanish dollars, not less than 10000
OF them, entered the camp of G en-. Wilkin-
son on the Sabine. This story is something
or the cast the arguments of the Bqlti-
more OemoSthcneS, which to use one ofhis
own polished figures, cuts its own throat.
vas tins money given to encourage an in
vaslon OF Mexico or to discourage it ?
Was it given to favor or to resist Burr II
1t is said IT was given to favor Burr, we find
the bait did not take. If it is said that it
was to oppose Burr, then there could be no
great crime even if money was taken by one
power IN peace with another, for the pur-
pose OF preserving both from war and de-
ISOLATION. However, this would be conced-
ing even too much. The Spariaris re
not quite so lavish of their dollars, and tn.
entrance OF mu'es lao,n with dollars into
the American camp could scarcely have
been concealed from Col Gushing and the
officers OF the army. IT is a good tough sto-
ry, however. and happens to be surrounded
by sufficient Quantity of extraneous mat
ter to render it amusing for the hour The
government of the u. States, it is to be sun
posed, are well apprized Of the source
whence this little episode proceeded, and
OF many other contradictory accounts
relative thereto.
There is another publication, that of a
debate in the Orleans Legis!atulc c, partjcn-
iarly the speech of Or. Watkins in the
House Of Assembly there. The debate has
been circulated by post to all parts of the
continent. Of Dir w tkins's patriotism
l say nothing, only wish to submit to con-
Sideration the regularity OF his mind and
the consistency OF his speeches at different
times.-For example, he says that .Gen.
q" .Adafr, the day he reached Orleans had
4" stated that he lest Natchez the 2sd Dec.
and that Burr was then there with two
" Hat boats destined for Orleans" Yet
this same DR.. Watkins at the house of
James Carrick, Esqr. in Orleans, a few
days after Gen. Wilkinson had arrived
there, declared in the most unreserved
manner, nd telieve in the hearing of Will
kinson, that" 1t was unwise to attemnt
terrifying the city OF Orleans, for if the
" people expected from above should come
down, the General with the force he had
could not resist them, and that he would
" not find a man in Orleans who would as
oiSb nun Wat biiC hAlUcS OF revolutions
were so widely extended, it was not in
" the power of government to extingnis,
" them, and that they deserved il from
their imbecility and their connivance at
Miranda's expedition; for that every
child in the streets who Gould lisp, would
tell you they did connive at that exue-
" dition. That we might talk Of discon-
tents on the Mississippi, but they were
" tobe found on the Atlantic also'
These were the contradictory sentiments
of the gentleman who was at the same time
also the Mayor Of Orleans and Speaker of
The House ofDclegates. Yet this man who
said in Wilkinson's hearing that rebellion
was so extended that not a man would as
SYST III repeliing treason and civil war
when Wilkinson had resisted and seized on
the traiterous agents, could talk as he did.
IN this way It is that dishonesty always
acts-When DIR. Bollman and Count WI
ly, were called upon to give evidence. the
former could not accept pardon because
he had committed no crime, and co,ld n,t
be called upon to give evidence, because
ms evidence would subject him TO the .,uilt
OF felony-and Count W,Hy could MOI bo
called upon to decypher III, ir-eieyq4, .ct.
ter, because If he did dec vyh.y ia: the .rt-
ter might involve him in the guilt ~ felony.
MOMJS.
DRAMATIC INTELLIGENCE.
The amusement furnished by the ceielr,-