Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-23

time OF the accusation arains, him. he
might have explained the circumstance,
and shewn tina, such was the case.
MIR McRae also remarked the inconsis-
tency OF the arguments ofthe counsel for
Col Burr; their insisting hat his intenti-
ons were perfectly innocent, being mere
ly the settlement OF Washita lands,) and
yet attempting To brand Gen Wilkinson
with guilt, for being pariicipator in those
intentions. If they were both equally
guilty, this would not render Aaron Burr
less criminal.
Mr. Wickbam. We never said that
Gen. Wilkinson and Col. Barr were C.
| qna!ly guilty. What I said was that both
were engaged in an honorable enterprise
in the event Of 4 war with Spain. What
we charge Gen. Wjlkinsoa with, is hay-
ing united with Col. Burr, and then de.
sert'ng him--toroing trai .or--and repre-
seniing the case quite differently from the
truth.
The Chief Justice. I, is absolutely
necessary to hear the testimony 10 nudge
OF the fact. The only difficulty is that it
does not appear, under the impression I
now have. what effeGl it can have. If it
was proved that Gen. Wilkinson had been
pensioner of the court of Spain, it could
have no influence on the case.
MIR Vickham. We say that General
Wilkinson had an interest with the king
OF Spain, and. in order 10 preserve the
dominlons Of that monarch which he knew
we're about to be attacked, he withdrew
from Col. Burr, and represented an en-
terprize which was perfectly innocent and
eventual, as one highly criminal.
Mr. Martin. Gen. Wilkinson, by be.
traying Col Burr, had double motive
! the one was to acquire favor with his own
government, the other with the king of
Spain.
The Chief Justice. do not under.
stand it to be your object TO prove con-
timing pension
Col Burr. Our object is to prove the
receipt of fourteen thousand and odd dol
lars at one time, and some knowledge
OF the payment of other sums of money
10 Gen. Wilkinson.
Col. Burr 20 Mr. Power. Are you ac.
qpainled with Alexis Bon Ami A Yes.
z Do you know his signature! A think
| do. Q Is he Justice of the peace in
New Orleans? A Yes. [iIere Colonel
Burr produced a certificate from the of.
flee of the Secretary of State, shelving.
that Nj. Bon Ami was a Justice of the
peace for New Crleans.1 Colonel Burr.
/ Are you acquainted with the signatures
OF Messrs. Derbigny and Mercier? A
| With both very well. Col. Burr. Will
you look at those papers, (shewing him
their dispositions, signed by them respec-
lively, and a.tested by Bon Ami, Justice
ofthe peace for New Or!eans.) NJ. Pow.
er said he believed the signatures 10 those
dispositions, were in the band writing Of
he persons whose names were annexed
to them. Col. Burr. Do you know whe-
ther W. Mercier was subponaed to at
tend here! A believe he was. heard
nm say that he was subpnnaed, but the
| affections ofhis family were such, arising
from the death Of his Gatherin-Iaw, that
he could not possibly attend. Col. Burr.
Do you know why NJ. Deibigny is not
here! do you know whether he was sub
p9naed A heard him say he was. .
Why did he not attend A l heard him
say 1t would be the utter ruin Of his fani.
ly, u he were TO take such long and ex-
| pensive Journey, and IN the meantime
neglect has business. Col. Burr. Is he
man upon whose personal exertons his
family depend for subsistence a l be.
| Iiese so,
Col. Burr to Mr. Power. Do you know
ot any correspondence in cypher by Gen.
Wilkinson with Baron Carondeietl mir
Hay objected to the question on the
grounds before stated, and because the
ans"er, whether it be in the negative or
| stfrmaiive, could have no influence on
the cause. MIR Wickham said, that Cen.
Wilkinson in the course of his examina.
ton had been asked whether he had been
IN the habit Of corresponding with the
Baron Carondelet in CIPHER, and had ans.
wered No" but immediately afterwards
sa'd she did not recoliect." Hc admit.
ted that the answer Of Cen. Wilkinson
was hastily given but still, if we are able
to prove that he had been in the habit of
corresponding with the Baron de Caron.
d@Iei IN CIPHER, his saying that he did not
recoi!ect such correspondence, will have
direct teadencylto weaken his lestimo-
ny " witness has sworn to partico.
lar fact, altho' immaterial 10 the raoss.
the opposite party may ialsify tina, part
Tor the purpose Of impeaching the credi.
bility Of the witiess.l
Coll Burr repeated the last question to