Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1808-02-01
FROM WASHINGTON, JAN. Il.
Mr.. CLARK'S STATEMENT.

leans, in December, 1896, having been
invited to the country by an uncle Ot
considerable wealth and influence, who
had been long resident In that city
Shortly after my arrival | was employ
ed in the office Of Secretary Of the gov
eminent. This Office vas the 1uposi
tory oi al state papers. I'm F5f, Gen.
Wilkinson made lis first visit to New
Orleans, and was introduced BY my I'M
Gle to the Governor and other officers
of the Spanish government.
In the succeeding year 1898, much
sensation was excited BY the report Of
his having entered into some arrange
mcnts with the government Of LOuisi-
ana, to separate the Western country
from the United States and this re-
port acquired great credit upon his sec
ond visit 10 \. Orleans, in l789-A-
Bout this time saw letter from the
General to a person in New-Orlrans,
giving an account Of Colonel Connollv's
mission to him from the British gov
eminent IN Canada, and of proposals
made TO him on the part of that gov
eminent, and mentioning his determin
alton of adhering to his connection with
the Spaniards.
My intimacy with the officers Of the
Spanish government, and my access to
Official information, disclosed to me
shortly afterwards some of the plans
the GeNeral had proposed to the Gov
eminent iOr efeCting the contemplated
separation. The general project was
the severance of the western country
from the Un'teu States, and the esta5-
lIshment Of q separate government in
the alliance and unter the protection Or
Spain. In effecung'his, Spain was to
furnish money and arms and the
minds of the western Pople were 10 be
seduced and brought owe, to the project
by liberal advantages RESTING from it.
to be held out by Spain. The trade Of
the Mississippi was to be rendered free,
the port Of New Orleans to BE opened
10 1tIcr", ana a fivU commerce alles-y~I
I'D the productions Of the new govern
ment with Spain and the West India
Islands. remember about tie same
time to have seen a list Of name, cf cit
liens Of the Western country. which
was in the hand writing Of the General,
who were recommended for pensions,
and the sums proper to be paid 10 each
were stated and | then distinctly I'M
derstood that he and others were actu-
ally Pensioners Of the Spanish Govern
ment. had nc personal knowledge Of
money being paid 10 Gen Wilkinson or
to any agent for him on account Of his
pension, previous TO the year 1898 or
1894. In one Of these years, and in
which | cannot be certain until | con-
suit my books, Mr. La Cassagne who
| understood was postmaster at the
Falls Of Ohio came to New-Orleans,
and as one Of the associates with Gen
Wilkinson in the project Of dismem-
berment, received a sum OF money,
Jour thousand dollars Of which, or there
abouts, were embarked by a special
permission, free of duty, on board a
vessel which had been consigned to me,
and which sailed for Philadelphia IN
which vessel Mr. Ia Cassagne went
passenger. At and prior to this peri
OIL, had various opportunities Of see
ing the projects submitted to the Span
ish government, and Of learning many
Of the details from the agents employ
cd to carry them into execution.
In 1894, two gentlemen of the
names Of Owens and Collins, friends
and agents Of Cen. Wilkinson, came to
n. Orleans. To the first was entrust-
ed, as | was particularly informed by
the officers ofthe Spanish government,
5000 dollars 10 be delivered to General
Wilkinson on account Of his own pen
sion and that of others. On his way in
returning to Kentucky Owens was
murdered by his boats crew, and the
money, it was understood was made a.
way with by them-This occurrence
occasioned a considerable noise in Ken
lucky, and contributed with Mr.. Pow
er's visits at a subsequent period, TO
awaken the suspicious &c Gen, Wayne
who took measures to intercept the cor
respondence Of General Wilkinson
with the Spanish government, which
failed through the address Of Power.
Collins, the co-agent with Owens,
first attempted to fit out a small vessel
in the port of New-Orleans, in order to
proceed to some port in the Atlantic
Seas, but she was destroyed by the
hurricane Of the month Of August, in
1894. He then fitted out a small yes
-. ?