Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-19
THE WEST AND THE DISUNION.
The Consplraeies of17s4.

The COnspiracies of 1854.
But few people, perhaps, among
those who are comparatively familiar
with the history of American strug'
giles IN the revolutionary period are
aware how very near-at a subsequent
epoch-the Union came to the loss of
the west. 1t may, indeed, surprise
some to know that there was a care
fully projected conspiracy between
citizens OF the new republic an d
emissaries Of Spain and France, based
primarily upon hardships endured by
the west through neglect of Congress.
that aimed in its various stages to
create an independence for the western
against the Atlantic States, either as
an absolute government in itself or
as an independent of one of the other
or the foreign powers named, The
origin of the dissension that ultimate
ly grew into bitterness, and only did
not extend to positive hostilities be-
cause sof the fortunate but altogether
fortuitous circumstances, was the dis
pute between Spain and the United
States over the right of the latter to
navigate the Mississippi River south
of the thirty first degree, it being held
that the concessions of Great Britain
to America recognized that point as
the southern boundary touching upon
the Spanish possessions.
The inability TO use the river as an
outlet would make futile the agricul-
tural and producing interests Of what
is now Kentucky and Tennessee, and
the dispute between the two powers
had led into the district west of the
Alleghanies a great body of adventur-
Gus persons, many Of " hom had been
ia the revolutionary armies. Whom
finally the point had been yielded to
Spain, the new coafederacy then being
weak and too much embarrassed 10
enter vigorously into the protection
of the rights of the Western States,
the people of the environed region felt
that they had practically been aban
doned by Congress- and their dissatis-
faction and bitterness were the greater
because the seat of government, then
at New York, was too remote tor the
ready exercise of justice and protec =
ton. The luminosity was the more
excited by the refusal Of Congress to
admit Kentucky as a State unless
Vermont or Maine were simultaneous
ly considered, 50 that the balance of
power could be maintained in the
East.
Spain was alert to improve the oc-
casion, and did all in its power by
speeches and covert means to influence
the Western people to an act of seces-
sion, perceiving the great interest to
herself in having division of power
that might eventually serve her in
preserving the coveted lands of
Louisiana under a strong Spanish
control. At h S juncture General
James Wilkinson, who was born in
Maryland, had been with Arnold and
fallen into disrepute with Washington
came to Lexington, and by insinuat-
ing means gained the confidence of
Miro. the Spanish Governor at New
Orleans, and secured the right to
navigate the Mississippi with cargoes
of tobacco and flour He soon came
to have commercial mastery of the
situation, and exercised his influence
to fan the flame ofWestern resentment
and between TIE years 1884 and 1899
was more or less continuously invol-
we'd in intrigues, not uninfuenced by
brides and considerations, now with
the Spanish, and again with the
French, for inducing the Western
States to proclaim their independence.
The intense discomfort increased as
the growing population in vain petit
toned Congress TO secure to it the
free use of the river, and the people
were divided into different parties, one
favoring a new republic in close ALI
ance with Spain, another advocating
aunion with Louisiana under Spanish
laws, another wishing to declare war
against Spain and seize New Orleans.
and still another desirous that France
should recover possession of Louisiana
and extend her protection to Ken
lucky. Wilkinson, in secret confer
once with the Spanish. urged at the
Kentucky convention Of 17SS that an
independence was essential, and the
plan to effect it, as urged upon Miro,
was TO provoke the resentment of
Congress with a view to stimulate
that body into some inyidious act
which might excite the passions Of the
people, which, with the pcweS Of
Spain and the debility of the United
States in balance, might determine
the west to assert itself. The prospect
of war between Spain and Great