Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-10-04
SENATE or THE UNITED STATES
sprKcn OF JOIN d. ADAMS, coNcLupEp


And this is the Communication. which
ladded strength to Mr. Smiths confidence in
Mr. Burr. This is The communication, up
on which Mr. Smith engag ed his two sons
to go as Burr's associates
The attack upon Mexico was to be IN ccSc
war saonld take place between Spain and
the United States. But is it possible, SIR,
that man of Mr. Snith's understanding
sh uld at shat time, and under these circum-
stances have given.an instant of credit to
that sh ,low prctence? If Mr. Swartwout,
one of Burr's acknowledge associates, was
ashamed of pretending to rely on this tale
OF contingent war, & frankly told the grand
jury at Richmond, that they were to attack
Mexico in case of war with Spain; bar
If there had been no war, he was really to
forget the law of the United States against
such expeditions: If commodore Truxton,
private citizen, smarting under the niu-
ries which he conceived be had suffered
from the administration. even in July, while
the project was but in prospect, and not in
actua, execution, made mis- first and empht-
teal question, whether the govern nent Of
rue United States was acquainted wien it.
and on being Informed that they were not
instantly refused To nave any concern with
| it; let me ask, whether in the last days OF
November, while Burr was persevering in
his preparations after having been brought
before a judicial courtupdn this very charge
| and dismissed solely because a witness was
absent, Sena.nr IF tie United States. re
ceiving this communication from Burr him :,
self, could possibly be The dupe of this pre-
tence! Whether his irs- question ought not
20 have been that of commodore Truxton /:
Is the executive of the United States in,
formed OF your designs Is it possible. sir,
that this disclosure of the intended Mexi-
can invasion, could confirm the confidence
| OF Mr. smith, when it was the very hing
for which the district attorney, not three
weeks before had entefed the complaint a.
gainst MIR. Burr, before the court Of the u
States, competent to try that offence ? Is it
possible thar Mr.. Burr's confession OF his
guilt should have been the confirmation OF
| Mr.. Smith conlideuce Yes, Sir Soft as
| relates to the misdelneanor, to Mr.. Smith )
participation in the project for invading
| Mexico, his own affidavit on the 9Th Of ia
lnuary, 1907, is evidence, which, in my mind,
nothing can control. His engagement oil
his Two soss TO Mr.. BUR, admits neither oil
| denial nor Of justification
About ten days after this; on the second
and third of December, Mr.. Smith goes
Ito Cincinnati, Frankfort and Lexington, &c
purchase provisions, and TO sell bills of ex
}change. Here he accidentally sees again
Mr.. Burr. Here he finds that MIR. Burr is
for the second time charged, and now be-
fore grand jury with that very offence oil
preparing an expedition against Mexico
watch in his confidential communication tc
MIR Smith he had explicitly avowed. And
Mr.. Smith, by the testimony of three of hi.
own witnesses hurries away from the scene
to AVOID beng subpoenaed as witness, de-
iciarInp that he knnxUc N O-,t hso
that could either criminate or Justify Mr.
Burr
The first Of these witnesses is Kelly, MI
Smiths confidential agent and store keep.
!, err at Cincinnati; of whose character, as
man OF uprightness and veracity, the most
respectable attestationS are produced. At
ter stating the motive of Mr.. Smiths goina
to Cincinnati, and thence to Lexington
helly'S deposition, produced here by Mr.
smith himself, proceeds thus:
"He returned and informed me that OF
his arrival at Lexington, he understood tina
he principal men with whom he wished I,
transact business were at Frankfort; tina
f he was also informed that prosecution
, the second time, was commenced agains
col. Burr, and he (Smith) was told that i
It was known, he was in the state, he woult
{ be subpoenaed as a witness-that he told hi
hllOTnSTS nc WOulu not put tnenn TO the trOu
BILE to summon him, if he had fresh hors
ne would go on there immedately-fndin
he could not see the men he wished to see
he started for Fraakfort-that on his ar
rival here, he enquired for major Morri
son, | think he said in two or thre
public houses, but could not find him; tha
; he was informed the investigationinto Burr
conduct before the grand jury was DELAYED
for want of gen Adair, who was said to b
a principal witness against him, and that il
all probability, proceedings Would be state
for several days, and as he (Smith coult
, not be detained so long from his business
: particularly as he kne7U nothing that EUouit
I either crimiHate or CIRCULATE col. Burr
that if his testimony could be Of any benef
either way, he would have stayed with plea
) sure, but as he 7vas entirety ignorant ofaRI
: u BHrr's fOiikcai UiezUs, lac conceived t
stay there for no purpose, would be doing in
Justice to his private as well as to his public
concerns, and therefore as he WAS not SUN
moncd, he started away early next NOR
ming"
Mr.. Jordan's deposition, after relatin,
Mr.. Smiths application to him respect nj
the bills ofexchange, says" fhe CONVEX
sation then turned on the pendiug trial O
col. Burr; and mentioned that had beef
called OF as a witness ard observed, tina
Burr had also been at your house and wa
lit known that you were in this nlare th - o.,