Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-09-07

articles will be found at length, (No. 8, ant
they establish community OF interest be
tween the parties in trade to be carried OF
between Kentucky and New Orleans. Mr.
Clark was my near relation and residing a
New Orleans, and Of course had the dispo
sal of all the produce that was sent down BY
his partners in Kentucky. / was then hi
clerk, and had an intimate knowledge of tn.
affairs OF the concern the books are now
in my possession, and important extract.
from them will be hereafter referred to.
This partnership was dissolved by mutu.
al consent on the 18th September, 1890, as
appears by general Wilkinson's declara tor
of that date (Note A. The connection be
tween Wilkinson and Dunn was also dis
solved about the same time by the death Of
the latter. Wilkinson then connected him.
self with MIR. Peyton Short, and thei, enter.
prize having proved unfortunate, Wilkin-
son in 1871 resumed his military career
Unable to brook a superior, or more proba-
bly, afraid that the nature of his Spanish
connexions would be discovered by his vi
gilance-the whole period of gen. Wayne
command was marked by conduct on the
part ofWilkins0n which was in the language
of general Knox, considered as furnishing
the military reputation of our COUNTRY
wide extracts annexed 10 the Plain Tale.
In1797 he attainedt object of his intrigues
and was placed at the head of the army.
Here he has continued ever since, and in
1908 had the Office Of commissioner for re-
ceiving the transfer of the province added to
his former trusts. In this character he vi
sited New Orleans and resided some months
among his old acquaintance and friends.-
His subsequent appointment to the govern
ment OF Upper Louisiana, his Sabine cam
paign, his mertor:ous services at New Or
leans, and his later movements, are too no.
torious to need repetition. 1t was necessa-
ry, however, to give this short sketch of his
commercial and military life during the last
twenty years, in order TO take a distinct
view OF the testimony as applicable to the
different periods of his history.
The precise period at which general Will
kinsen was enrolled among the pensioners
of Spain, cannot desi gnate by any posi-
tive testimony-a strong presumption, how
ever, may be drawn from the confe ssion
contained in the pamphlet before quoted. -
He tells US that the monopoly of the trade
was acquired by means which it would not
be honorable to detail. The general seems
to think, however, that dishonor would be
attached to the disclosure, but none to the
act: The world W i'll be of different OPT
Mon, and stamp corruption with the mark
OF infamy by whatever means it may be dis
covered. II cannot be imagined that he
meant by this phrase to say he had sold
himself to obtain the monopoly; he only
wishes the world to understand, that the
privilege was gained by bribng the COVER
nor OF Louisiana, and tina. his delicacy was
too great TO betray him. The general stands
much in need OF this kind of indulgence,
and wishes to set an example OF discretion
to the Spanish oHcers-a want of it on their
part he knows would ruin him for ever
But let any one consider the circumstances
of the transaction, and then ask himself
what kind of bride was offered-what equi-
valent was paid for his treaty of commerce
and navigation /?
The Spanish government at that time re-
fused to acknowledge the slightest pretext
Of right in the United States to the naviga-
ton of the Mississippi. Our government
considered their own prc1ensions, or their
means of enforcing them, so weak, that it
was proposed in their counsels to abandon
the exercise of the right for IS years, in
order to have it acknowledged after that
period. This was favorite point with the
Spanish government. Their minister was
intriguing in the United States-their cabi-
net was at work in Europe, and while eve.
ry engine was set at work to block up the
navigation of the Mississippi, can it be sup
posed that few thousand dollars paid to |
ooyrrnor of New n, lsonc monld ho,,a .o,,