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

GU pursuance " UJcSOiHefVH ~ EHc liOHSc
Of Representatives Of the 18Th inst.
JANUARY 90, 1903.
Read and referred to Messrs John Mont
gomery, Nicholas, Upham, Smile, TAYLOR,
q. w. Campbell and ]. K. Smith.
TO the House of RefresentatiUes Of the
- United STATES.
SOME days previous to your resolutions
of the 18th inst court of enquiry had been
instituted at the request of Gen. Wilkinson,
charged to make the inquiry into his con-
duct which the first resolution desires, and
had commenced their proceedings To the
judge advocate of that court the papers
and information on that subject, transmitted
co me by the house OF representatives, have
been delivered to be used according to the
rules and powers of that court.
The request of q communication of any
information which may have been received.
at any time since the establishment of the
present government, touching combinations
with foreign agents for Remembering the
union, or the corrupt receipt of money by
any officer of the United States, from the
agents of foreign governments, can be COM
piled with but in partial degree
Ut IS well understood that in the first or
second year of the presidency of general
washington, information was given to him
relating 10 certain combinations with the
agents OF foreign government, for the dis
memberment o! the union which combna-
tons had taken place before the establish
ment OF the present federal government.
This information, however, is believed ne
,ver to have been deposited in any public
Office, or left in that of the presidents Sc
icretary; these having been duly examined !:
but to have been considered as personally
confidential, and therefore retained among
ms private papers. A communication from
II c governor OF Virginia to president Wash
lngton, is found in the Office of the Presi
dents secretary, which, although not strict
ly within the terms Of the request of the
house of representatives. is communicated.
inasmuch as it may throw some light on the
subjects of the correspondence of that time.
bstweeni certain foreign agents and citizens
OF the United States.
In the first or second year of the admin
stration of president Adams, Andrew Eli
colt, then employed in Designating, in con-
junction with the Span sh authorities, the
boundaries between the territories of the u
nited States and of Spain, under the treaty
with that nation communicated to the exc
cative of the United States, papers and in
formation respecting the subjects of the pre-
sent inquiry, which were deposited in the
ofhce OF state. Copies of these are now
transmitted to the house of representatives,
except OF "a single letter and reference
from the said Andrew Ellicott, which being
expressly desired to be kept secret, is there
fore not communicated but it's contents can
he obtained from himself in more legal
form and directions have been given TO sun
mon him TO appear as witness before the
cour5 of inquiry.
A p1per"on the commerce Of I,ouisiana. :"
bearing date the ,S,h dav of April, 1893, Is
round ipthe oihce of state, suppcssdto have
been communicated by Mr.. Daniel Clark.
oil New Orleans, then subject oe Spain.
and now OF the house OF representatives o.
the United States, stating certain CONNER
cial transactions of general Wilkinson in
New Orleans: an extract from this is now
communicated, because it contains facts
which may have some bearing on the aucs-
tons relating to him.
The destruction OF the war Office bv FIRE.
IN the close OF 1900, involved all informant
on II contained at that date.
The papers already described, thereto
constitute the whole OF the informant on on
these subjects, deposited in the public OH
ces, dnrlnB the preceding Administrations,
as far as has vet been found but IL cannot
be affirmed that there may be no other. he
cause the papers of the Offices being sled.
tor the most part, alphabetically, unless aid
ed by the suggestion of any particular name
which may have given such information, no.
thing short of careful examination Of the
papers IN the offices generally could autho-
rise suck an Affirmation.
About twelvemonth after came 10 the
administration Of the government, Mr..
Clark gave some verbal information 70 nv
self, as we'll as to the secretary of state, re-
latinG 10 the same combinations for tho die
memberment Of the union. qe was listened
70 freely; and he then delivered the Ietier
OF governor Gayoso addressed to himself, Of
which copy is now communicated After
his return 10 New Orleans he forwarded TO
the secretary of state other papers, with a
request that after perusal they should be
burnt. This however was rot done anJ-he
was So informed by the secretary of state,
and that they would be held subject to his
orders These papers have not vet been
found IN the Office. a letter therefore has
been addressed TO the former chief clerk.
VINO may perhaps give information respect-
ing them As far as our memories enable
us 70 say, they related only TO the coInbiea-
IONS before spoken of, and not at all 90 the
corrupt receip. Of money by any officer OF
the United States consequently they re-
spected what was considered as a dead mat
ter, known TO the preceding administrati-