The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-01-03
ST. JOI1NSBURY, VT, SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 1852

In the course of the same conversation Burr s
ld that the people of Mississippi Territory t
ere dISatfected towards the Government. c
lat they would at no distant period, revolt, i
nd call IN forci On aid; and when this time ,
lould arrive. the people of the Western /
tates would he called on to determine to
hIch section they would adhere. But he ,
'id this was a matter in which he was not at (
IL concerned. though it was then spoken of |,
nd feared at the seat of Government. Both
greed that the people should be informed on
he subject, SO that they might not be drawn
nawarcs into a contest for which thev were
lot prepared. Burr, before leaving. contract
ID at Marietta for the building of fifteen bat
eaux, capable Of CARRYING five hundred men.
After his departure, Blennerhasset wrote
Tor The Marietta newspaper, a short series of
articles advocating the propricty Of separat-
ing the West from the Eastern part of the
l mon, and another series coniutlng the first
l''l''''' i'tiHtIid>>tt ditcrwSrflS stat
ed had no reference to their scheme, because
their scheme had nothing to do with the L.
nltcd States. His object was nartly. to prc-
pare the minds of the people for what he con-
Sidcrcd an inevitable event: bnt mainly. to
divert the public attention from the Mexican
INVASION, which he supposed the Government
would approve 50 lon- as it should be kept
secret. though. if it should become known.
the Administration would feel bound to sup
press If. Rv this time rumor> Of the intrn-
drd expedition BEGAN to he noi>ed over the
country. They occasioncd a General di>qui-
ctude and even alarm. which we compar.
emily smile at in these davS when such cxpe
ditionS are rife. The Government appointet
secret agents to spy out irS organization un
usual powers Were conferred upon the Com
manding General in the West: the Leci>la
turc in the West enacted special laws to Al,
in suppre>>in- it bands of hastily organize
militia were posted along the Ohio, the Mis-
si>>ipli. and the rivers flowing into them
and bill su>pcnding the operation Of tn
haL,GS corp't$ act passed through one brancl
oi Congress
In October, Hlrnncras,ct went to Lcxinc
ton, in kcn,ucky, with Mrs Aston. who ha
been his guest since August. and her hushan
who had just arrived at the Island Here ii
observed Bnrrs popularity inrr,a>in-, an
no J"ai"''~y >hown on the part OF the Govern
mcnt to"'''.> linn. But, before the mont
was ended, he received special n,.Ss,.,,n,.
from hlS vile. who WIS alarmed l., the II.
ports ot three c"mpanc, Of militia hcin" or
ganiled IN Wood County. and ct their intrm
. ton 10 barn hi house. On hi WAY home.
he met Charles Fcnron Mercer, and SPOKE t,
him with grra; scn>ililitv Of the rumor
ailoat. He said hc was the last man in IN,
world who would disturb the peace of the L
nitcd States; he had found IN them an a>v
lum, the tranquility of whirh he would ncvc
violate. He mentioned the plan Of forming
on the Ba>trop Purchase. under the au>pice
of Burr, a COLONY OF the most cultivated fam
lies in the mon. aud strongly urged NJ
Mercer to JOIN it. When Mr. Mercer don't,
rd the >rrrr>> of such settlement begun u:
der such auspices OF Burr Blvnncrhas>ct DC
tended him with enthusiasm
soon after he reached the Island. Bur
Joined hm. on his return from rcrruitin
tour through Ohio and kcnturkv The cri
Sis OF the undertaking WAS too near for
friendly visit in d few davs. Burr complete
his arrangements with the boat-huildcrS !
Marietta. and BicnnclhaS>ct'> family were Z
gain left to themselves. Not many ,ays d
ter. they heard that Burr had been arreste
in kcntuck on a charge of Unreasonable pra,
tircs, and a dcsi IN to attack the Spanish d,
mains. and thereby cndanyer the peace of tn
. United States, and discharged for want o
evidence against him. Blenncrha>>et wei
for sympathy to Mr. Graham, who had latei
arrived at Marietta and who, he had undc
| stood from Burr, was one of their recruits
t But learning from him that many of Burr
REPRESENTATIONS, were false. that Graham W.
the agent appointed by the President to ba
1 tlc the expedition, and that the President W;
roSolypd to uSe every means To SnpnrcSS If |
returned home disheartcd. The mcnaciI
T. tone of his Virginia ncig ghbors, and the cnac
ments of the Ohio Legislature, added to h
n deSpondcncy He was ready to abandon II
h whole project, when on the 9th of Deccmbe
! party of recruits, from New York, arrive
=. at the Island Their presence. and the e.
s hortation OF his wife ovcrcame his better re
: son he resolved to perSevere, whatever mig
4 be the consequences. The Presidents Pro
n lamation being received, the Wood Coun
@ militia determined to seize Blennerhasset.-
g But on the night of the 10th, he escaped dow
- the river with the New York party. II
next day, the militia found the Island deseI
d ed.
o Mrs Blennerhasset had gone to Marietta,
e obtain the boat which had been express
J. built for her, to follow her husband Findil
# it was confiscated with the other boats, s.
C returned to the island with heavy heart
It On landing, she heard an unusual sound {
h riot, and found her shrubbcry tramPled dow
" the lawn tore up and strcwed with rubbl
d and, near the house, by a fire made of b
d garden paling, she met Il group of drunk'
/: militia. Her presence inspired them with
q feeling of respect. The larder and wine-c,