Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1860-10-04
Correspondence of the New York Times;
WESTERN HISTORY.
P0pers Of BtennerhGsset-Bu Burr Wilkinson
-ArmstrOng'S Reriew-Jackson.

Mere literature l seldom notice, for the |
world is full OF books, and one fact is worth a
thousand dissertations; but, when literature IS
ultimately connected with the interior history |
OF the county, aud touches on that r, ina nee OF
real llte-whIch Is the most extraordinary of |
al rOmances-l teel great interest in lts rev. !
eatlOns Such ls the case with The Bienner !
hssset Papers. 1t has long been known that |
Herman Blennerhasset kept journal, and had
an extensive correspondence. Much effort has
been made by several parties TO obtain these |
papers. AT last, MIR. w. II. Stafford, of Chilli |
colhe, has got them, aud they are now in
course of publication by the house of Moore,
WlIstach & Keys, of Cincinnati. ain much
mistaken if they are not found of great inter-
est Historically they are another chapter in
the revelation of what is called Burr's Con
spiracy," and have also deep interest as con-
tanning picture of men and women in the
early period Of Western History. MIR. Stafford
has connected the journal and events together
IN u easy, pleasing narrative, making work
very acceptable TO general readers There
are several points connected with this history
which | shall briefly notice.
Before Blennerhassett came TO America, and
while Burr was yet young lawyer in New
York, another Intriguing, ambitious, and rather
brilliant man appeared on the stage of Western
politics. This man was James Wilkinson, who
commanded the Army on the ST. Lawrence in
1918, aud who al the time | speak Of was an
officer of The army holding important posts
In l1c7 this man went first TO New Orleans
where lie established a commercial house, and
then returned TO Kentucky. Louisiana was
then a Province Of Spain. The Spanish au.
thorites formed the idea of separating the
Western couOty from the Union, and making
in ibo Vail of tbo
slppi. For this purpose they interested Wiki.
lnson, Judge Sebastian and many other leading
men in that enterprise. The more patriotic
part of the community utterly rejected the
plan; but there is no doubt that mary of the
leading characters of Kentucky were impli-
Gated IN the Spanish Association" which was
then formed. Jukge Sebastian was tried, and
found guilty of receiving two thousand dollars
per annum from the Spanish Government
Wilkinson was also tried, but acquitted for
want of direct evidence. II was proved, how.
ever, that he correspondent IN CIPHER with the
SpanIards and was amply supplied with Span
lsh gold. Passing BY nearly twenty years, we
find Wilkinson, with that singular faulty which
al that time marked the military appointments
of the Government, 10 and of the army,
invading Canada on the St. Lawrence. He
had become dlssIpated and lost his energy
| He was drunk in the cabin of the boat when
the gallant Scott, comma nding the advance,
was already in the precincts of Montreal,
which he could have easily taken. Just then
Wilkinson ordered a retreat, and the fruits of
the campaign were lost. Armstrong was then
Secretary of war, and the disgrace Of the army
was reflected upon him. Half dozen yea rs
after the NeW York Reriew was published,
and in it Armstrong, who held caustic pen,
reviewed the life aud conduct of Gen. James
Wilkinson. Taking up the Spanish effair and
the Burr business, Armstrong proved incontes-
tIbly that Wilkinson was was either a traitor
TO his country or his friend. On his trial
however. Wilkinson had taken The last al erna
tive aud excused il on the GROUND of exira0r.
binary patriotism The Spanish Association
and the proceedings at the time constitute the
preliminary chapter TO the Burr affair Burr
after the death of Hamilton, disgrsced before
the public, turned has eyes TO building up an
empire on the Western frontier, as Houston
Walker aud others have done since The ina.
terlal to be used was the great horde of adven
tUrers ever ready for new enterprise, and the
assumed idea that the Western people would
be ready to separate from the Union if they
could secure the navigation of the Mississippi
There is most abundant evidence to show thai
dsunion, the separation OF The Western Stater
one. Burr having lost all caste at the North
entered on a career of speculation. One OBJ
ject was MexIco-another, the Sc paration o
, the United States. In the Marietta Gazett
were published articles, suggested by Burr, an,
written by BiennerhasEet, sounding the peop
Of Ohio and Western Virgin on that topic
Afterwards he confined his views to the separ
alton of Louisiana. His cypher letter to Wilk
insOn mentioned among other things, the sci
cure of Baton Rouge. shall not go over tn
details of this affair, but shall merely refer I
the sort of characters Burr dealt wiIh-espec
ally as some OF these persons have become his
torical. On the llth Of July, 1904 Burr sho
Hamilton. On the I'd of March, 1915, he too
: his celebrated leave of the Senate. On III
both of April he was at Pittsburgh. Frol
u Pittsburgh he went down the Ohio, and paese
over the Cumberland. In July he spent wee
with Andrew Jackson man, said Burr,
. many points after my own heart. In course
" this trip, and subsequent ones, his associst Il
were James Wilkinson, Jonathan Dayton, Jnt
II Smith. (Senator from Ohio.) Samuel Swar
= won't, Herman BlennerhasseII, Andrew Jacl
son, Comfort Tyler, &c. These were all me
- remarkable for speculative enter prise, and
their subsequent career have been somew hl
known TO the people of the United Staies.-
u James Wilkinson has been exhibited as a rec
70 less, disslpaled, unprincipled man. Jno Smit
was expelled from the U. S. Senate. Sam
SwartwOut became notorious detaulter; j.
he nathan Dayton was land Speculation, HermU
O Blenerhassei went forth ruined man, and h
nd wife was buried in New York by the chart
n. of N Irish Society. Andrew Jackson, was
AT the Battle of New Orleans, made President
Ter the United States. There is great consolidate
of to me, in the history of Burr and his compa
no ions. Good people cry out against the evil
ed our times, and political corruption. dOu
in very much whether I've have at this time
ne. large proportion of corrupt, reckless and u
tie prncIped men, as there were in the time
. Adams and ofJetferson. The truth is, that
ST. many years subsequent to the Revolution, I
Div word HONOR was substituted for all virtue a
md all religion. Burr and bis companions we
lea men Of honor. And what was honor II "
im. simply to keep faith With their boon comps