Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-09-30
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
SPEECH OF JoHN Q. ADAMS, coNr1nuEp

oENA IL Of HE ~ M led STATES.
SPEECH OF John Q. ADAMS, CONTINUED
But, sir, If Mr.. Smith had seen nothing
in this letter to slartle confidence instead
OF composing Il; was there nothing ia the
course OF public events al that time, which
might and should have aroused him 10
more than suspicion? Mr.. Burr's letter
was dated on the 26th of October; with
in ten days from that time, that is on the
5th of November following, the District
Attorney OF the United States in Kentuc
ky, fled complaint against Mr.. Burr,
for violation of the laws of the United
States 10 setting on foot an expedition a.
ganst Mexico, which complaint beg
leave TO read
"I, Il Dayiess, attorney for the said
United States in and for said dis riot, up.
on his corporal oath doth depose and say.
that the depoDent is Informed and doth
verify believe, that certain Aaron Eurr.
esq late Vice President OF the United
Sta,es, for several months past hath been
and is now engaged in preparing and set
ting on foot and IN providing and prepar.
ing the means far military expedition
and en;erPriZe, within this district, for
the purpose of descending the Ohio and
Mississippi Herewith, and making war
Upon the subjects of the Kiaf, Of Spain,
who are now IN a state of peace with the
people cf the United States, TO wit (: on the
province of Mexico, on the westwardiy
side of Louisiana, which apperlain aud BE
| long 70 the King OF Spain, an European
Priace, with whom the United States are
al peace.
And said deponent further saith, that
ne is Informed and fully believes, that the
above charge can and Wi! be fully sub.
s'aDtiated by evidence, provided this ho-
norable court viii grant compulsory pro-
cess 10 bring in Witnesses to testify thereto
And this deponent further saith, that he
is informed and verify believes that the a.
gents and emissaries of the said Burr, have
purchased up and are continuing to pur.
chase large stores ofprovsions az if for an
arnly. while the said Burr seems to con.
ceal in great mystery from the people at
large his purposes and projects: and while
the minds of the good people of this district
seem agitated with the current rumor, thar
a military expedition against some neigh
bourlng power Is preparing by said Aaron
/ Burr.
"Wherefore said attorney, on behalf of
sad United States, prays that due process
! issue to compel the personal appearance of
the said Aaron Burr in this court, and all
so or snch witnesses as NAV be necessary
| in behalf of the said United States and
that this honorable court will duly recoP.
nize the said Aaron Burr, to answer such
charge as may be preferred against him
in the premises. And in the mean time
that he desist and refrain from all further
preparation and proceeding in the said ar
mament within the said United States or
the territories or dependencies thereof"
| It VIII be remembered that on this COM
plant grand jury was summoned, and on
the 9Th OF November discharged, because
| Davis Floyd, whom the attorney deemed
material witness, and whom we now
know TO have been one OF Mr.. Burr's prip..
cipal associates, was absent. We all know
I what the effect of this transaction was here.
Certainly not of inspiring confluence in
| those who are ignorant of Mr.. Burr's real
! designs.
J No, siri! The confidence, which this a.
boTtiye attempt to bring Mr. Burr to JUS.
tice inspired, was in himself and his assoc
ciates. He wrote Immediately 20 BIenner-
| hassstt, lot to apprehend any danger from
this prosecution. (Which his friends then s.
so long after called persecution but de.
lay in the settlement Of the lands-and one
fortnight after--that is on the sd day of
November, we see him again at CiEcinna~
Il, making the promised personal and con-
bdential communication to Mr. Smith, which
he had not dared in the letter of Goth
Oct. to commit to paper and no wonder.
For IT IS complete and unques'ionable ac-
acknowledgement of the identical crime for
which Mr. Burr had been summoned into
court at Frankfort, not twenty DAYS before,
and discharged merely from the failure of
a witness to attend. But il is not merely a
confession of that guilt, it imports much
more x the very terms used by Mr. s. re-
lating It, IN his affidavit OF 9th Janu ~ 1907,
shew hat nc understood it as importing
more. MIR. Burr tells Mr.. Smith, that his
design sis aot dishonorable, or inimlcal to
this government" ne "repeated that his
object was nat hostile 10 the heotk If fhe