The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-02-06
Dornesttc.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 80.
II more detailed Rntemeat Of tie preceding,

ii more detailed Rate,uent of tie broeeedises in
THE CIRCUIT COURT eftbe ,Dji7ri9 efCoiunu-
bia.
Mr. JONES, the U. States attorney, prefaced
his motion on Friday with an addrefs to the
following effect.
He requefted leave to interrupt the ordinary
buGnefs of the court by introducing a motion
relative to fubjett calculated, from it's impor-
lance, to fix the mott earnet attention, and to
excite the profouudeft interef.
Two perions have been arrefted in dftant
territory of the U. S. and brought within the
jurifdiction of this court, charged with being
principal actors in the execution of an abomina-
BILE plot againft the Union, and in treafonablc
and atrocious enterprise of nobility againft the
territory and citizens of thefe ltates. The CITY
of New-Orleans appears to have been the mott
important point Of attack meditated in the firft
infance by the confprators. General Wilkin-
fon, the commander in chief, haftens with his
army to defend the place. While exerting all
the zeal and activity of vigilant and able COM
mander, of a brave and faithful folder, to make
every requfte military preparation againft AZ.
faults from without, he detects certain emilia
ries within the very walls of his fortrefs, engag.
ed in the mott criminal and mifchievous acts of
cooperation with the expected analants =
he orders Erick Bollman and Samuel Swart-
won't, two of thofe emiharies who were fuppof.
ed to have demonstrated their treafonable pur.
pofe by the mott unequvocal acts, to be feized
and fent to the feat of government under mill
tary guard. Immediately on their arrival it is
determined by the executive government to
transfer the cufody of the prifoners from the
military 70 the civil power.
There is no reafon to doubt the authority of
a military commander, actually engaged in the
fuppreflion of a treafonable enterprise againft
the u S. to feize upon traitors whom he de-
teets, fagrante deijHo, and to detain them fe-
curely till they can be fubjetted to judicial pro-
cefs and examination, but that authority arifing
from necefity and the exigencies of the public
fafety, nun ceale when an opportunity offers
for the quiet and convenient, and at the fame
time efficient administration Of jufice in the or
binary way. IL is therefore that, without he
fitation or delay, intruetions are given infant
Iy to move this court for judicial warrant to
arreft thoie perlons aud place them in the cuff
tody of the law. In lupport of this motion two
depoGtions, folemnly fworn to by Gen. Wiki.
infon, would be read TO the court. Thofr do
cuments will explain the grounds upon which
he proceeded to anet and detain the prifoners.
Mr.. Jones obicryed that owing to the fudden
and unexpected manner in which this talk had
devolved upon him, he had not even perufed
theie documents aud could therefore apprife
the court of their contents in no other way than
by reading them in evidence.
Two depohtions of Gen. w. were then
read to the court, both of which have been
publiihed in the Enquirer accompanied by the
Prelidents mefiages Of the 22d and gath Of
Jan.
The court, after examining the depoIitions,
enquired of Mr.. Jones with what fpeciic of
fence he proPofed the prifoners fiiould be charg-
ed in the warrant ;
He anfwered, q" I accufe them of the crime
of trealon agaiuf the u. 8. and moved that they
be arrefed upon that charge"
a. The court fuggeaed that the depofitions,
read in evidence, might apply either to charge
of treafon, Of mifpriion of treafon, or to a
charge of violating the a6t of Congrefs which
prohibits the fettiug on foot military expedite
ons sgaint foreign Sations II treafon be made