Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-02-27

3SctS-FlrSt, the tlSiliSihosf NA
tern country from the Atlantic .states-asd o9-
conf, the delivery TO Cen " ilSinsoh OF an ~
fetal despatch FROM the Baron dc Carohuei1''
relative to the detention OF the posts 10 tue
north OF the 3lst degree, contrary to the urea,
- nreviously concluded between the Onltee.
States and Spain. If said emlssary disclosed
70 Gen. Wilkinson the first object OF his ms
sion. if does not appear, even by his own tes.i,
mony. that he favored it: en- the contrary, saia
en;ssarv was received coolly, and confined 10
the quarters of the officers the delivery o'
the posts, according to treaty, was ufgea y
said Wilkinson in conversation with nm ana
il likewise appears that ne sent said emlssaty
under GUARD to louisiana, and at the same
time instructed the officer commanding at
Fort Mas &C Hot to permit said enhssary 10 re-
turn up the Ohio again, but to send hi'ii oach
in case he made the attempt On the secoho
object, Gen Wilkinson, in his reply 10 inc
letter of the Baron de Carondelet, urged Inc
fulGlment of the treaty, and underworld to re-
move all apprehension of an INVASION OF Loul-
siana by the English of Canada.
II appears sufficiently evident to the court,
General Wilkinson, during the time he had
property in Newt Orleans held the Language OF
Cancellation, if not that OF a temporlslng policy,
with the officers and agents OF the Spanish 60
yernmept and his views appear to have been
directed to the security OF that property, and
by no means against the tranquility OF these
states. But subsequent to 1895, at winch
fine if is believed be had drawn most OF his
properly from New Orleans, and provision
was made for the free navigation OF the Mis-
sissippi, he seems to have changed MS lan-
puage. If said emissary is to be credited,
General Wilkinson declared to him IN sep
tember, 1897, that he had relnqulshed all III
tercouse with the Spanish government ana
at the same time intiulated his determination
to oppose its projects. 1t must be remem-
bercd that Cen Wilkinson WAS at that time at
the mead OF the army, aud that, while that sta
ton opened new and safe channels OF com
mu;,icalion with the officers and agents OF
Spain, and multiplied the means OF dismem-
berment, he appears to have disregarded them,
and AZ the moment, too, when ne had 1t IN
his power to favor their designs with effect.
Il rs pertinent 70 remark, that II attempts were
made to corrupt the patriotism ard integrity
offIen. Wilkinson, the records oil this court
exhibit no one act Of his military lite which
can, by the most constrained construction, DC
considered as the effect OF such corruption.
re Gen. Wilkinson actually formed corrupt
connection with the Spanish government; the
repeated applications made by him many years
ago for an inquiry into MS conduct, appear
rather explic4hle-espcciallya as many OF the
witnesses of his guilt ii he Was guilty then
lived to testify cn the subject.
After full hearing Of the evidence, both
for and against the accused, on the th'rc iouFt'
and fifth charges, and after the most mature
deliheration thereon, the court IS OF opinion
that they are not supported, and therefore ac-
ooirs bripadier Gen James Wilkinson OF the
said charges, and their respective speclhca-
| tons. =,
The impressions naturally made on the
! minds ,f the citizens Of these United States
by the events which gave rise to the tnird
| fourth aud fifth charges, justify lew explain
| tory remarks.
/! General Wilkinson is said to have consplr-
| ed with kuozrn traitors, and Oh this noteflety
All the legal force of these ch,rgcs depend
! IN the eve Of the law, as well as OF reason ane
| humanity, every man is presumed TO be lnno
! cent till proved to be guilty ; consequent!
! there can be no knozyn truftor, unless the proc
be established by the record ofhis conviction
and it is not within the knowledge OF thi'
court. that any known traitor, did exist II
! the space OF tirAe designated by these charges
no man, as it appears, having been convictes
of treason.
AS the accused mas taken no exception tt
defects Of fnattcr or form, and as tull hiVes
tigation is desirable Oh all sides, the dilncuisy
which thus appears at the threshold OF the m
squi,y, will be passed over
The period Of time embraced BY these three
CHARGES. is between the commencement
!. March 1905, and the end of October 1906.
Among the last acts OF that session, whlc
terminated the Vice Presidency OF Aarol