Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-01-26
COURT or INQUIRY
TN THECAsE OF
GENERAL JAMES WILKINSON
Frfdou Jcnnnru as. lsO8.

Friday January IS, 1908.
General Wilkinson appeared, and the
court having stated that they were ready
to proceed to business, he enqured whe.h-
.cr 1t was expected that the gentlemen poti-
fled would attend, as he would wish 70
make the remarks he purposed to offer in
their presence. 1t was replied that no an
swers had been yet received from them.
A short time after, the following letters
were received from Messrs. Clark * Row
an, in answer TO the notices served upon
them. The letter of Mr.. Randolph was
subsequently received.
The form of the notices is as follows.
with the variation of the name of the gen
tleman to whom it was addressed:
TO the Hon. Danici Clark, dciecQte fo
Congress, from the Territory If Or
leans
The President OF the United States, at
the request of Brgadier General James
Wilkinson, having appointed a Military
Court of Enquiry Cor the purpose OF hear
ing testimony inrciation to the said Genl.
Wilkinson having been, or now being a
pcnsioner to the Spanish Government.
while holding 81 commission under the rov
ernment of the United States and 1t he
ing duly intimatcd to The Cnnr; that YOU;
q stimnny, touching the matter in question.
will I've material on behalf OF :hc United
States; il is therefore especially request
ed by the Court that you will please at.
tend the-C"urt on Friday next al 10 o'cloc :
y NJ. in order to give evidence in the case
in hearing
Done Ivy order of the Court this 18th
day of January, 1903.
VIZ JONES, Jun. acting
as Judge Advocate
"wednesday, 18Th January, 1903.
The following are the ANSWERS received !:
Washington, Ism Junuary 1908.
SIR,
have received your note of the 18th
inst int IN ting the request of the Military
Court of Enquiry, instituted at the in
stance of Genl. James Wilkinson by the
President, that should attend as a witness
to give evidence, relative TIC the charge
made against gen. Wilkinson of his being
or hav ny been a pensioner of the Spanish
government. You will permit me, Sir.
through you, TO inform the Court that un.
der the order of the House of Representa-
tives | have al eady communicated i'm q
deposition the substance of my knowledge
and information respecting the subject OF
the matter before the Court This demo
sition by ORDER of the House has been
transmitted to the President to be used ac
cording to his discretion. Shall have no
Obi. ction 70 testify further before a,.v court
legally authorized TO call citizens Before
them competent 10 the full investigation Of
so compiIcate case but understanding as
1 da that a military court of enquiry has
no power OF acting but IN relation 10 mill
tary men, and that the attendance of a
citizen to testify before them W uld be con
sidered merely voluntary, thought am in
no degree disposed to withhold when prop
erly called upon any information / possess
as TO the subject of the charges before the
court, yet cannot consent to appear be-
fore tribunal whose rule of proceedings
is purely military and whose powers can
not enable them to call for corrobnrat,ve
proofs upon points which might he render
ed questionable on the testimony of a sim
gle witness by adverse evidence
have the honor to remain,
very respectfully, Sir,
your most Obedient servant,
DANIEL CLARK.
IT.. Jones, jJ-. ESQ.