The native American., 1838-05-19

/, delay could be admitted in executing whateye
sentence the court might Decree The SAM
: messenger who brought Champe's letter returne,
with the ordered communication Five days hat
nearly elapsed, after reaching New York, before
Champe saw the confdant to whom only the at
tempt against Arnold was TO be ntrusted. This
!, person entered with promptiude into the design
RI promising his cordial assistance. To procure ;
RI proper associate to Champe was the first object
} and this ne promised to do with all possible de
spatch. Furnishing conveyance to Lee, W.
again heard from Champe, who stated what
have related, with the additional intelligence tha
ne had that morning (the last of September) beer
appointed one of Arnold's recruiting sergeanls
having enlisted the day before with Arnold; anc
that he was induced to take this affecting ster
for the purpose of securing uninterrupted ingress
and egress to the house which the general occu-
pied; it being indispensable to speedy conclu-
sion OF the difficult enterprise which the informa-
ton ne had just received had so forcibly urged
He added that the difficulties in his way were
numerous and stubborn; and that his prospect oil
success was by no means cheering. With re-
spect to the additional treason, he asserted that he
had every reason to believe that it was ground
less; that the report took its rise in the enemy's
camp. and that he hoped soon to clear up that
matter satisfactorily. The pleasure which the
last part of this communication afforded was
damped by the tidings it impaired respecting Ar
nod as on his speedy delivery depended Andres
relief. The interposition Of Sir Henry Clinton,
who was extremely anxious to save his much
loved aid-dc-camp, still continued; and it was ex-
pected the examination of witnesses, and the de-
fence of the prisoner. would protract the decision
! OF the court of inquiry now assembled, and give
sufficient time for the consummation of the pro-
Loot toI IN A ,Ioto
pointment took place, from quarter unforeseen
and unexpected. The honorable and accom-
pshed Andre, knowing his guilt, disdained de-
fence and prevented the examination of witnesses
by conlessing the character in which he stood.
On the next day (thc I'd Of October, the court
again assembled; when every doubt that could
possibly arise in the case having been remoYed
by the previous confession, Andre was dcclareASp
be spy, and condemned to suffer accordingly.
The sentence was executed, on the subsequent
day, in the usual form, the commander-in-chief
deemng it improper to interpose any delay. In
this decision he was warranted by the very un-
promising intelligence received from Champe, by
the still-existing implication of other officers in
Arnold's conspiracy, by due regard to public
opinion, and by real tenderness to the condemn
ed.
Neither Congress nor the nation could have
been with propriety informed of the cause Of the
delay, and, without such information, it must
have excited in both alarm and suspicion.
| Andre himself could not have been intrusted
with the secret, and would consequently have at
tributed the unlooked-for event to the expostula-
ton and exertion of Sir Henry Clinton, which
would not fail to produce in his breast expecta-
tons of ultimate relief; to excite which would
have been cruel, as the realization of such ex-
pectation depended upon possible but improba-
bic contingency. The fate of Andre, fastened by
himself, deprived the enterprise committed to
Champe of feature which had been highly pri-
zed by its protector, and which had very much
engaged the heart Of the individual chosen to
cute it. .s@
Washington ordered Major Lee to commune
cate what had passed to the sergeant with direc-
tions to encourage him to prosecute, with unre-
axed vigor, the remaining objects of his instruc-
tons, but to intermt haste in the execution only
as far as was compatible with final success.
! This was accordingly done by the first oppor-
tunty, in tie manner directed. Champe deplor-
ed the sad necessity which occurred, and can
ddly confessed that the hope of enabling Wash
ington to save the life of Andre, (who had been
the subject of universal commiseration in the
American camp,) greatly contributed to remove
the serious difficulties which opposed his acced-
ing to the proposition when first propounded.
Some documents accompanied this communication,
tending to prove the innocence of the accused
general; they were completely satisfactory, and
did credit to the discrimination, zeal, and dill
gence, of the sergeant. Lee enclosed them i'm
mediately to the commander-in-chief, who was
pleased express the satisfaction he derived from
the information, and to order the major to wait
upon him the next day; when the whole subject
was re-examined, and the distrust heretofore en-
tertained ofthe accused was forever dismissed.
=. Nothing now remained to be done but the sci
zure and safe delivery of Arnold. To this object
Champe gave his undivided attention; and on the
10Th October Major Lee received from him very
particular account Of the progress he had made,
with the outlines of his plan. This was, without
delay, submitted to Washington, with request
for few additional guneas. The generals let
ter, written on the same day, October 20,) evin-
ces his attention to the minutin of business, as
well as his immutable determination to possess
4 Arnold alive, or not at all. This was his original
injunction, which henever omitted to enforce upon
every proper occasion.
j Major Lee had an opportunity in the course o
the week of writing TO Champe, when he told hin
that the rewards which he had promised TO his
associates would be certainly paid on the delivery