Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-09-19

he people &IS 0iSScpsShSN 49, 49,
and Francs are dlsgustea by
the connections Of the United States With
England. lite army IS weak and despted
to Wilkinson.
..The threats of congress justify sne at
once and without any disguise, to sutcor
the western states money will not be whit
ipq. for will immediately send irigatt to
La Vera Cruz to fetch it as we'll as amnu-
milton. One instant of 6rnness apa resdn'
ton is all that is necessary to make the P,o-
pie of the west perfectly happy. If this in
stan, is suffered to escape, ana we shonlf be
forced to give up the potts, Kentucky and
Tennessee, SURF ounded by the said posts
and without communication with Louisiana.
will remain forever under the oppression of
the Atlantic states. Ifyou represent these
arguments with force to Wilkins0n Se6ast0n,
La Gassagne,&c if you spread their notions
among the people by gaining the best wri-
-sers, such as Breckenridge and Others BY
promises zvhich shall be faithfis.y fulfilled,
YOU may cause the most glorious and happy
.commotion you will cover yourself with
glory and may expect the most brilliant ter
tune" &c. II this were our only document
it would be.s most persuasive evidence OF
previous intelligence between the baron aid
gen. Wilkinson. He had been his pensiol'
er while second in command. Having d.
tanned the first rank he was now placed ina
situation by the approaching rupture between
the two nations, to elect between open T.
belion and return to duty. The span
iards seems to have somewhat appreheni-
ed the latter, but to have calculated from
his knowledge of the generals character,
that he might be brought openly to throw if
.ns allegiance. He therefore directs Pow
er to aatser his vanity with the prospect Of
being the founder Ola new republic. His
avarlct had been successfully tried before,
and now hundredslof thousands of dollars
hgure in every line, money is not to oe want.
ing, and has two ruling passions are to be
excited to the utmost pitch. What can ex-
press the insolent certainty they had of the
commanders treachery more fully, than
that when enumeratlng the reasons ~ ny they
counted upon success. such as that the peo.
pie were disconnected with their taxes, that
France and Spain were-disglsted win the
government, and that the army was weak,
the baron adds, that it zuas dsvotea to Nil
kinsnS thus is the first time that the de.
votlon OF an army t. its chief was placed in
the list OF reasons which were to ensure the
success Off enemies; and the expression
Can only be accounsed for, by supposing that
the gsnsa w Army w @4s b a k dKsh o.
serve the distinction that is made between
those whom twas cxpedient still to tempt.
!" Gam (says the baron) Breckenridge and
other writers who have influence by promi-
ses which snail be faithfully fu!dlled"-"re-
present these arguments with force to VII
kinson, La Cassagne and Sebastian, and you
will produce the most glorious commoton."
Promises were necessary to Breckenridge,
because he had not yet been bribed: No
thing was necessary but exhortation to in
duce Wilkinson and Sebastian-promises
were not necessary Ito them, beousc they
had not only been made, but recognised,
and they only wanted a little encouragement
to appear what they really were. Sebastian
has been convicted and degraded by his
country, for having been at the time this let,
ter was written. in the pay of Spain. Does
not the ass ,cation ofWilkinson's Fame with
his, in this confidential letter OF Instructions
prove an equality OF guilt?
The Baron Gle Carondelet did not howe
yer know the character Of the general. He
was willing 70 take all the money that could
be offered, he was willing to carry on any
correspondence, provided it could be kept
secret, and while in subordinate station he
was willing to risk a place for which he
knew he could obtain an indemnity but the
scene was now changed, he was at the head
of the army, his legal emoluments were great
and his rapacity foresaw the means OF In
creasing them. His secret correspondence