The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-04-28
gnItttral,
OLD-TIME POLITICS.

people OF the west III louo-Ii ~ Vho OOh-
templsted secession Of the Territories
west of the Allegheny Mountains, and
the establishment Of an independent
Empire, under the lead of Aaron Burr,
late Vice President of the United States,
has never been equalled. 1t was greater,
because the conspiracy involved many
of the leading men of the country among
them United States Senator from Ohio,
and from the fact that boats were being
built in this State to transport troops TN.
der the guise of emigrants and NUM-
tions of war and supplies for the troops
the one under the pretense of protection
for the emigrants against the Indians,
and the other to supply them with food
until they could open up farms in the
vast region of country, which Burr pre-
tended he had purchased on the bor-
ders Of Louisiana and Mexico, then
Spanish Province. Almost every promi'
nent man on the borders Of Ohio was dis
trusted. Mr.. Burr had been in the State
and mingled freely with it's citizens, and
with his polite address and insinuating
manners had made hosts of friends.
Many were suspected Of being in the
plot who were guiltless, while but few
really in it escaped suspicion. All sorts
of tales we're told of the ultimate object
sought to be obtained. A descent was to
be made on New 0rleans-prominent
banks were to supply the material aid
and the whole Mississippi Valley was to
be detached from the Union and inGor.
porated with Mexico into an Empire, of
which Burr was to be the head. Others
again held that Burr's plans were less
vast; that he only wished a Northwest
ern Republic formed out Of the Missis-
sippi Valley, and possibly including in
it the then Spanish Province Of Texas.
Which of these plans, or either of them,
was the correct one will now never be
known. That Aaron Burr was bold,
bad man, highly talented, yet utterly
corrupt, with an ambition capable of
grasping any project that would lead TO
high honor, fame and fortune, is vel
known.
When the Government at Washington
became Cognizant of his mysterious
movements in the West, and took action
TO nip the treason in the bud, the excite
ment throughout the country became in
tense. That the authorities at Washing.
ton were alarmed is evidenced by the
fact, stated to the writer of this by Gen.
eral Cass. that the Postmaster Gen raj
deputed to the Governor of Ohio, sane.
toned by the President, the right
promptly to remove any Postmaster in
Ohio even suspected Of being friendly to
Burr, and to appoint in his place such
men, known TO be "loyal," as the GOV.
ernor might select, and for this purpose
blank commissions were sent to Gov
ernor Tifin.
The Ohio Legislature of 1906 Z, when
it met, in the persons Of its members re.
eponded to the fears of the Government
at Washington and the people Of Ohio,
A resolution, drawn up by General Cass,
then member OF the Ohio Legislature
denounced the treason and pledged Ohio
then the youngest State in the Union, to
do it's whole duty in putting down the
mad and reasonable attempt, which res
olution was followed by a law passed
December 5, 1906, the first week Of the
session, entitled IAN act to prevent GER
tain acts hostile to the peace and tran
guilty of the United States, within the
jurisdiction of this State" which, as a
part of 0hio's political history, is known
to but few, for the present generation
seem to remember but to forget" in
portant matters dating back beyond the
adoption of the present Constitution Of
Ohio. AS given below, the first and most
important section in full, the remaining
sections condensed, it is a sample Of the
manner the Legislative fathers Of Ohio
determined to make treason odious. Its
publication now, as matter OF history,
will pay for the space it occupies:
Section l. Be ii enacted, &C., That If
any person or persons shall, within the
jurisdiction of this State, fit out or arm,
or procure to be fitted out or armed, or
shall knowingly be concerned in the
furnishing, fitting out or arming of any
vessel, boat or water craft, or bring or
cause to be brought within the jurisdic.
sion of this State any vessel, boat or wa
ter craft with intent that such vessel,
boat or water.craft shall be employed to
disturb the peace and tranquility OF the
United States, or if any person or per
sons shall, within the jurisdi ittion of this
State, raise or attempt to raise, enlist or
attempt to enlist, any person, party or
army, or attempt to march any party or
army through this State, or If any per,
son shall knowingly enlist or engage In
any project or enterprise with heintent
to act against the pepce and tranquility
of the United States as aforesaid, every
such person or persons 80 offending
shall, upon conviction before the Su-
preme Court, be fined in a sum not ex-
ceeding $4,000 each, and imprisoned for
q term not exceeding three years; and
every such vessel, boat or water craft,
with the tackle, apparel and furniture,
together with all materials, arms, ammu-
milton or stores, which may have been
procured for the building or equipment
thereof, shall be forfeited to the use Of
tie State"
The second section provides for war
rants to be issued by the Governor for
the arrest of slch persons, and the seiz
ure Of the boats, &c, the warrants to be
directed TO the Sheriff, Coroner, or any
other officer Of the State militia above
the rank Of Captain. The arrested per.
sons, it is provided In section 8, are to be
taken before Judge Of the Supreme
Court, or President Judge of the Com.
mon Pleas, and II probable cost Of arrest
10 found, to be bound over in the sum of
$50 900, or in default Of bail to be com.
mitted to close custody Section pro.
vides that when boat or water craft Is
taken, it; with all its stores, ammunition
&c, the officer is to keep secure until the
next session of the Supreme Court, tobe
held in the county in which the capture
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