Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-10-12

turn to duty, against tne llllClt SaHiS VI uea-
SON. He did weigh these, but neither ho.
nor, nor integrity, nor duty-nor any man
" virtue Of the soul, at all contributed to
form his determination. The balance was
nearly suspended until dastaTdly fear fell in,
and made his treason kick the beam. MIR.
Burr's movement about this time became
extremely suspicious. Wilkinson knew that
he was watched he knew that the western
states did not favor his views: he found that
Burr overrated the strength OF the eastern
attachments and therefore he thought it
most prudent not to join him Immediately
with the western. Still, however, he had
hankering after the treason and he acted
IN such a manner as to enable INN to return
TO It. if Burr should succeed in obtaining an
efficient force: for he does not eve1a on the
21st of October, send to the presidents COPY
of the cyedered letter. Why did he with
hold this! l have always thought that it
was done to prevent his committing himself
too much with Burr, whom circumstances
might induce him afterwards to join; while
the partial disclosure he had made would
Away. be an evidence OF his patriotism, if,
as was then most probable, the enterprise
should fail. have never seen this letter OF
the 21st, but it was produced on the trial OF
Burr, and lhe following is an extract from
it., contained in question, put by Mr..
Wickham to gen. w. [page 2o4 of the pre-
sident's message before quoted =" You
say in your letter to the president, "t that
you were not only unintormed Of the prime
mover and ultimate affects Of the daring en-
terprize, but you are ignorant Of the tonn-
dation on 7vhich it rests, Of the means by
1ph,ch it is to be supported, and 1vhether any
immediate or collateral protection, internal
Or external, is expected"
Now, is it possible nationally to account
for this communication otherwise than by
supposing that so much was intended to be
toid, as would secure to himself the credit
Of an inforn,er, and that every thing was
concealed that would materially injure his
accoinplice a fortnlgh. had interviewed
between the writing OF this letter and the re-
reips oil Burr's letter accompanied by the
explanation OF Swartwout tortnigh had
elapsed since he had told MIR. Cushing
6 Yes, my friend great number of midi
"vldua.s, possessing wealth, popularity and
"talents, ale a. tins moment associated, for
"purposes inni@al 10 the government of
I" the United States. Colonel Burr is at
" their head" have discovered that the
o1yect IS treasonabe," &c. Yet he tells the
president that he cannot discover either the
prime mover, or the ultimate objects of
their daring enterprise that he is lgnoran.
Of the means by which it is to be supported,
or whether my protection is expected from
without or within. Ny distance from the
records prevents my procuring copy of this
letter at large, but this extract the only part
OF it have seen, is All lncontrs ible proof |
that his communication meant no more than
to secure the pardon granted to an lntormer
in case the enterprise did not succeed, blu. |
not to place any impeachment in the way of !
Burr's expedition. Why else did he pre-
tend ignorance of the prime mover of the
Internal and external resources, or of the
objects of the ent=rprlze, all which had |
been fully detailed both by the cyphcr letter
and bv Mr.. Swartwout. Why did he not
send copy of that letter? Why was pa
per, containing intelligence on which the
uaion depended, forwarded by only one
conveyance Why was it thirty five days in
reaching it's destination, at the most favor
able season of the year, when the usual
course OF the post from New Orleans, which
is about the same distance, is only twenty"
one days Why was no notice given to any
o. the governors of the states and territories
through which Burr must necessarily pass
And why was no other communication
made to the presideneuntil three week after
wards (12th November?) Why was not
COPY of Burr's letter sent even hen And