The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1852-06-03

cei'ed lnuicating the progressive steps of ths
replutionists. He wrote to Cushing to hasten
the march Of the troops, he pressed to the CT
eerht New Orleans to push forwardhis defence
'ndsent Rim a reinforcement Of men and art
GERS - assist in the work. He proceeded to Nat
chez. and despatched second special messp--
ger to the President, declaring that the existen
of the conspiracy had been placed beyond all
doubt, and expressing the necessity of putt z
New Orleans under martial law, step in which
he trusted to be sustained by the president:
Not content with taking these precautions.
Wilkinson warned Claiborne, the governor of til.
Loulslans Territory, that his government wa
menaced ~ secret plot, and entreated him to
Cooperate with the military commander in me-
sures of defence. At tho same time hA roada
requisitim upon the acting governor Of the Mis-
sissippi Territory for reinforcement of five
hundred militia to proceed to New Orleans.
In all these measures the activity and energy
of Wilkinson were undoubted hut it still r.
mains problem whether he intended to remai'
faithful to the United States. or 10 throw himself
into the srms of Burr. When he wrote to the
othcer at New Orleans, he neither expressed any
anxiety IN relation to the safety of the place
nor gave any reasons for his desire to have it
Immediately strengi hened. In his letter to Clai-
borne heexpressly enioined secrecy till he him
self arrived and when he made his demand
upon the governor of the MississiDpi Territory
as he deciinedto specify the service in which the
troops were to be engaged, the governor refused
to send them at all.
His proceedings on reaching New Orleans are
less open to doubt On the 9th of December,
1906, meeting of the merchants was called,
before whom Wilkinson and Claiborne made
an exposition Of Burrs projects. The militia
and squadron, of gunboats and ketches upon
the riEei were placed at wilkinson disposal
Swartwout and several others were arrested, and
one of them. having obtained hsrelease by writ
of habeas corpus, was re-arrested by order of
Wilkinson, and with Swartwout sent prisoner
by sea TO Washington.
While these mysterious and alarming rumors
were agitating the people of lower Mississippi,
Burr and his confederates in the western states
were actively engaged in perfecting their prepa-
rations for the attainment of the object they had
in view.
So various however and conflicting were the
reports concerning the intentions of the conspir-
ators, and so carefully had Burr shrouded the
sS1u = sseTHe stery. that the deveiUPrmeHts
which were made in the newspapers of the day
tended more to confuse the public mind than to
enlichten il.
Almost simultaneously with Burr's second ap-
pearance IN the western country, a series of ar
ticles appeared in the Ohio Gazette. strongly ad-
vocating the separation of the western states
from the Union. OF these articles Blennerhas-
set was the nominal author but the main argu-
ments were believed to have been furnished by
Burr. Articles of similar, though less deci-
ded tendency appeared also in the Commonwealth
a democratic paper published at Pittsburgh.
A short time previous TO this. newspaper,
called the Western World, which had been star
ted at Frankfort. Kentucky. published series
Of articles blending the present project of Burr
with the old intrigues of the Spanish party in
that state
Sebastian, then Judge of the Supreme Court
was boldly denounced as a pensioner of Spain,
and charges of similar, though less sweeping
character, were also made against Senator Brown,
Judge Innis, and General Wilkinson.
But although in these papers, which were
written by Colonel Humphrey Marshall, Burr
was proclaimed traitor to his country, and I.is
whole scheme laid open, it was long time be-
| fore the leading politicians of Kentucky could
| be brought to believe in his criminal designs.
| One gentleman, however, rising above the in
credulity of his party, kept watchful eye OF
| Burr, and wrote several letters to the president
on the subjects, but without receiving any spe
cifc authority to act in the matter. This wa:
| Colonel Joseph II. Daviess, the attorney for tht
| United States.
On the 9Th of November, 1906, Daviess ap
peared in open court b,fore Judge Innis, anC
made affidavit to the effect, that he believed
Burr to lie engaged in organizing military ex
pedtion within the district, for the purpose o
descending the Mississippi and making war oil
the provinces of Mexico. He concluded 10y mo
| wing tnat process might issue to compel the at
tendance of Burr before the court to answer tn
charge After taking two days for reflection
Judge Innes refused to issue process, but direc
! ted grand jury to be impaneled to inquire in
! to the accusation, and witnesses to be summon
| cd
! At the time Daviess made application in tn
federal district court at Frankfort for the arres
of Burr, the latter was in Lexington. In les
than four hours after the motion was made, h
was in receipts of the tidings. He immedlatel.
wrote to Innes that he would be in court IN
day or two, and confront his accuser.
When he reached Frankfort in company Wit
his counsel, Henry Clay and Colonel Allen, find
ing the motion already overruled, he addresses
the Judge, and demanded an immediate investi
CATION.
Daviess replied, by declaring his readiness t
proceed as soon as he could procure the attend
ance of his witnesses, and with the consent o
Burr, the ensuing Wednesday was fixed upon b
the court for the investigation.
The immense sensation created by the afhda
Wit of Davies caused the courtroom TO be file
on the day of trial with large number of per
sons but it was soon discovered that Davi