Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-29

tween the countries. Now and then al
emigrant who wished to settle in Natchez
by dint OF entreaty, & solicitation OF friends
who had interest in New Orleans, procur
ed permission to remove there with his IA
lmily, slaves, Gait e, furniture and farming
utensils; but was allowed to bring no Other
property, except cash. An unexpected in.
Icident, however, changed the face OF things
and was productive of new line of con.
duct. The arrival of a boat, belonging tt
general Wilkinson, loaded with tobacco, and
other productions Of Kentucky, is announ.
ced in town, and guard was immediately
sent on board of it. The generals name
had hindered this being done 1T Natchez,
as the commandment was fearful that such &
step might be displeasing to ms superors,
VINO might wish to show some respect to he
property of general officer; at any rate
the boat was proceeding to Orleans, and
they would then resolve ON what measures
they ought To persue, and put in execution.
/ lhe government, not much disposed 10 shew
any mark Of respect or forbes rance to-
wards the generals property, he not having
AT that time arrived, was about pruceedlnp
IN the usual way of coahscation, when Il
merchant In Orleans who had Cansiderab {
influence there, aud who was formerly &C
qualnted with the general, represented to
intendant, would very probably give rise To
d'saGreeable events that the people of Ken
lucky were already eXasperated at the con
duct of the Spaniards, IN Selling on the pro-
| pcrty OF all those who navigated the Mis-.
slss'ppi, and it this system was pursued,
they would very proba5ly, in spite OF con-
gress and the executive of the Unued States
take upon themselves 10 obtain the navlga-
ton OF the RIVER BY force, which they were
wen able to do, measure for some time.
before much dreaded by this government,
which had no force 10 resist them. Is such a
plan was put in execution. Hints were
likewise given that Wilkinson was a very
popular man, who could influence the whole
| OF that country, and probably that his send
ing boat before him, with wisn that She
might bF seized, was but a snare at his re-
turn to influence the minds of the people :;
ana having brought them TO the point he
wished, induce them TO appoint him ear
leader, and then like a torrent spread over
the cosntry and Carry fire and desolation
from one end OF the province to the other.
Governor miro, a weak man, ulacouain-
ted with the American Government, igno-
rant even OF the position uf Kentucky with
respect to his own province, but alarmed
al the very idea of an ilrupiion Of Keriuc
KY men, whom he feared without knowing
their strength, communicated his wishes TO
the lntehddnt that the guard might be re-
moved from the boat, which WAS according
IS done, and Mr.. Patterson who was the
agent OF the general, was permitted to take
charge OF the property on boa: d, and TO sell
1t tree OF duty. The general on his arri-
val IN orleans, some time after, informed
OF the obligation he lay under TO the mer-
chant who had impressed the government
with such an idea of his Importance and in
huence at home, waited OH him and in con
cert with him formed plan for ,heir "a :
ture operations In his Interview with the
governor, tbat he might not seem 10 dero-
safe trcm the character given Of him Nv
! appearing concerned in so triiling d bust
ness, as boat load OF tobacco, hams and
7 onl'er, lie gave him 10 understand, that the
I property belonged TO many citizens in Ken
! lucky WHO avaiirg themselves OF his return
! to- the Atlantic states by way OF Orleaus.
wished TO make trail Of the temper Of this
government, as he on his arrival might in
form his own, what steps had been pursu-
! Ell under his eye, that adequate measures
might be afterwards taken to procure sa tis-
faction. He Acknowledged with gratitude
TIE attention and respect manifested by the
lsovernor towards himself in the favor she wn
tu his agent; but at the same time mention
ed, that he would no. wish the governor to
expose himself to The anger or his urt, by
| reirainlng from Selling on the boat and car
80, as II was but Il trae, If such were, the
posiiive orders from court, and that h e mad
not power to relax them according to
CIRCUMSTANCES. Convinced by this dis
Course, that the general rather. wished for
IN opportunity Of embrOiling Affairs, than
is5ughtto AVOID it, tie governor became more
ALARMED For two or three years before.
particularly since the arrival ofthc conSmis-
sloners from Georgia, who had come to Nat.
chez 20 Claim that country, he had been
fearful OF an invasion at every annual rise
/ OF the waters, and the news Of few boats
ibeing seen Was enough to alarm the whole
province. He revoleed in his mind What
measures he ought to pursue consistent
with the orders he had from home TO per
INIT the free navigation Of the river) in or
Der to keep the Kentucky people auiet, and
IN his succeeding interviews with Wilkin-
son, having procured more knowledge than
ne had hitherto acquired Of their cnarac-
ter, population, strength and dispositions.
he thought he could do nothing better tban
hold cut 4 bait to Wilkinson to use his j,,giu.
ence IN restraining the people from an ia
vaSion ut this province, til he could give
advice to his court, and require further in
structions. This was the point to which
the parties wished 10 bring him, and being
l informed that in Kentucky, two or three