Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-07-21
FRoM TIE Morris AMERIsAx. .
MORE EVIDENCE
AGAINST GENEKAl WILKINSON.

BY the attention of gentleman in Phila-
delphia, we are furnished with the following
import mt deposition, which we hasten to lay
be Gore cur re aders--We make no obseryati-
on on its contents--they need none But It
nav moi DO improper to state the reasons
which Justify and require the publication.
II has been said and published as their OPT
Mon by the coalt, to be an unive, sal and hrst
rule of military courts, especially courts OF
inquiry. whose proceedings are merely pre-
paratory. to prevent all publication OF those
proceedings, and of the testimony taken IN
the course of them. In open and direct vio-
lation of this rule, expressly laid down by
themselves, General Wilkinson has been per-
miltctl not only TO publish that part OF The
s1proceedinss in this case, land large part
81 was) witch consisted of his own scurriicus
and slanJerous attacks on the witnesses a.
gainst him, made in the shape OF addresses to
the court but also for the purpose OF tradu-
cling those witnesses, to garble the testimony,
and publish such part as he pleased, with all
s3ch misrepresentation as he thought would
conducc to his object This proceeding, if
not directly sanctioned by the court, has been
winked at and acq,icscea IN; and copies OF
such dispositions, as he chose to ask for, have
been given to him, if not for this ayowed pur-.
pose, yet certainly with q. perfect conviction
that they would be so used. This was the
case particularly with Mr., HARpER's deposit
tua; a copy Of which was given to General
Wilkinson, and by him published in the An
rera, for the express purpose OF furnishing
an opportunity Of slandering the witness !;
while a repeated application OF that Witness
himself for copy, for his own use and pro-
tcctivn, was, we are correctly informed, treat
cd with silent neglect.
Allhoueh every witness who has deposed
against Gen. Wilkinson, as far as we know,
or have heard, has come in for his share of
abuse. yet the most malignant and persever-
Ing attacks have been reserved for Mr.. Clark !;
because his testisnony was the most import
ant, the most direct, and the most compre-
hensive and because, supported by the ORR
eillal documents which he adduced, it pro-
sluced an universal conviction of Gen. Will
kinsor,'s guilt; conviction. which complete
" possessed the minds fthe members corr
nosinsr this court; althoNgs. sSy u '.ot Ccii-
stliuory as strictly legal, ant there
fore pronounced sentence of acq,.ittal
This is not indeed expressly declared BY
the court, as it was by the inry who acquitted
Col Burr, on similar grounds But IL is evil
IDENTITY to be Inferred from the words OF the
sentence, from the irresistible force of the
testimony and from the known cilcunstan-
ccs of the case; as will, we understand, at a
proper and no distant time, be most clearly
shewn.
Under these circumstances, we have deem
ed it our duty, as friends oftrnth sndsjustiee,
TO dispense, as We formerly intima.cd, with.
the observance of a rule, which has been vio-
lated or,-tke other side, III favor Of guilt and
defamation. These are ourreasons for pub
! lishfng,she subjoined deposition, which opens
keeenes that must Sill with horror and disgust
XElxry virsuous mind.
- Let 1t be recollected, that this deposition
was taken on the part of General Wilk:a.on,
and not of Mr., CLARK, or with his know
ledge Let it also be remembered tina. the
witness, Mr. DAxyEL w. Coke, of PhiiadeI-
phia, is nof a Federaist, but jealous snd
uniform supporter of Mr.. Jefferson. Ia this
4 parf Of the continent, ii is unnecessary to say
that he is man of high and unimpeached
character, and OF most respectable deport-
nsspt.
afSeS that the deposition Of Daniel
William Coke, esq. shall be taken and read
$sevidencs, on behalf of general Nilkin-
son, before the court of enquiry, whereof
colonel Burbeck is president.
(Siped)
w. JONES, Jun.
Officiating as Judge Advocate.
Wzshiprsrn y,,ne "a laos
HETEROGENEOUS,