Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1808-03-04

he following proceedings of ia MILF
TARY CouRT OF ENoyIRy id the case
Of general WILKINSON have been
communicated for insertion in the Ma
tional lotell,gencer.
The court being formed on the 18th
inst. at the PARTICULAR request Of general
Wilkinsos, for Ne purpose Of perpetuat-
ing testimonv.-He presented himself
add addressed that body.
GENTLrMEH,
I BEG leave to premise q few re.
marks before I proceed 10 call a witness!
Nothing could be so acceptable t me
as to be confronted BY nv accusers, who
have a~rtfullv aud wickedly hung me- up
to the world for offences, which cannot
but affect the feelings Of a. man Of honor
nearer than life ; and wbe, efore am I
refused this rightful indulgence ! Is it
because my enA mics, conscious Of the
fAIacy Of their accusations, content the 10.
selves" spArgrre in vulSum woes am
biguAs," and prefe' to trust the result to
the i~ealousies Of a free people, excited
~ the MAJ hinations Of the friends and
partisans of that conspiracy which l have
defeated ! Or is it because the eye Of
the-injured man is insrpportable to the
sight Of the base iujurer!.
Whatever may be the cause, it will
not be denied, that the case is a hard
one. 1t is indeed peculiarly SO; and
every person will admit, that to be
crimipated without an opportunity Of
defence, and to be condemned without
a'hearing, is sad reeompence for ser-
vices acknowledged, and 4 poor q
enlargement to futursf spfesipgs and
sacrifices in the public cause.
Thus circumstanced, and denied the
opportunity rs meettKe testimony which
may be opposed to me, l hope the PEE
culiarity OF my situation may be nv ex.
cuse for def, ing my enemies, and daring
them to a candid inve stigation. If then
MIR. C1atk will come before this court
and answer mterrogatories, I will not
only defend myself agains, his foul i'm.
p~ntations, but if the te stimeny which
has been recently offered 10 me, be not
greatly deceptive, l will convict him Of
forgery, perjury, and cooperation with
Aaron. Burr in his reasonable designs,
and if his right worthy patron, the very
gallant and honorable John Randolph,
viii! step from the Aoor Of privilege, and
utter whathas been aseribed to, him in
the public prints, I win institute an aeti-
on Of SANDER, and will give HIM an op.
portpnity in i cnur Of civil Jurisdiction,
to verify his assertion and s~atiate his
yindictive spirit, or Of being himself
! convicted of the o attrocious, wal.
ton, and ~murderous calumRies which
eve found place on record.
risl apparent from the mode of attack,
that my had rested much on
the audscitv Of the assault, aud the hate
full aspect of the charges aledged. sup.
! ported BY the mock soiemnity of a vSAun.
fary esba'te affidavit. They expected
from the time-she place the manner.
and the circumstances ofthe accusation,
to excite a torrent of indignation, which
might PROSTATE reason and justice be-
fore prejudice and passion, and in a mo-
ment of popular> phrenzy, sweep me
from the lists of honor to the occlusion
of all further ehquiry.-r Then indeed
M. Randolph might with malignant
delight have exclaimedtt' my sndis COM
'pIetely answyred"'b by the destruction Of
the man who dishonored me. The at
tempt was worthy its authors-woFehy
the cause it was destined to abes.' Il
deserves all the merit which is due to
desperation, and will meet the ample re-
ward of full handed infamy. For l do
slih Twelve 10 homer, and can assure
You, gentlemen, have fortunately saw
ed from lhe casualties incident to- an err
ra,.c lie and the wreck Of fine, the
meaps Of nv complete vindication,
which shaft be submitted to you, SO soon
is tae testimony 10 support the acoustic
on is brought forward.
In the mean time to invalidate, dis
errSit and destrov the effect of whatever