The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-01
Written for the Sunday sentinel.
AARON BURR'S INDIANA FRIEND.

Written for the Sunday sentinel.
j AARON BURR'S INDIANA FRIEND.
On the 18th day of June, 1907, two indict.
ments were returned by the Grand Jury of
the United States Court st Richmond, Viz
ginis, one for the crime of treason and the
other for misdemeanor against Davis Floyd,
of the Territory OF Indiana. The reporters
short hand notes of Aaron Burr's trial do
not show whether the accused was ever
placed under arrest to answer to the indict-
ments or even whether he Was present ss
witness in behalf of the principal prisoners,
Burr and Blennerhassett; bat 1t is fair to
presume that Floyd was at Richmond -
faithful to Aaron Burr and his fortunes dur
ing the exciting and iercely fought treason
trial which eliminated in Burrs scquittal
as he was in the memorable and mysterious
Iexpedition from Blennerhsssetts famous Is
land down the OHIO and Mississippi and
among the swamps of Bayou Pierre, In
search OF glory, gold, or Southwestern
empire. What Burr's real object was Davis
Floyd probably did not know, and this fdus
Achates no doubt believed that the admins.
tire ton sympathized with Burr and be must
have expected gitteriDg as we'll as SUBJ
staDtial re ward In the event OF success Os-
/ tenslOly Burr plan was I'd establish q colony
of educated refined ana rich settlers upon
the Baron Bsstrop tract OF land, on the
banks OF the Washits River in the Louisians
| re rritory, but his real design was to seize
upon Mexico and the Spanish provinces a.
soon war. then seeming almost inevitable.
was declared by our Government with Spain.
Then with the aid of the Western people an
EN- pire was to be est ablished in the South
west W hich would rival Rome In magnih-
ceRce, power and wealth. Burr was to be
the Emperor, and Davis Floyd presumably
would have been high in authority il EN-
perors reward loyal sdherents. Before the
expedition started, and on on the
had been arrested at Frankfort.
Kentucky, and when the case was called for
trial, the district attorney, John Davies, OF
Fippecanoe fame, obtained q continuance on
the ground that Davis Floyd the most i'm
portant witness for the Government was
absent in Indiana attending Q session OF the
Territorial Legislature at VIncennes. II APP
pears from billions History, page 4l6, that
Floyd was the uember from Clark County
of the fist Territorial Legislature which met
at Vincennes on July 20, 1905 liz Floyd ever
appeared at Frankfort land the presumption
Is that he did his testimony exculpated
Burr, fer the Grand jury refused TO return
q bill of indictment against him. In less
than a month Bnrrs expedition WAS on its
way. The enthusiastic Biennerhassett who
ready for wealth and glory, louisiana and
Mexico" states in his private journal that
on Tuesday, December l6, 1906 they left
JEFF ersonville and crossed the falls of the
Ohie safely and on the 27Ih they met Burr
with his devoted allies, Colonel CONTEXT
" Ter and M jor Davis Floyd at the mouth
of the Cumberland. Floyd commanded one
of the boats. So they proceeded uRtil they
reached Bayou Pierre, about thirty miles
above Nstchez. But by this time the whole
country was alarmed The militia bad gath
cred at Natchez The Cover offered two
Thousand dollars for Burrs arrest and be
left Floyd and Tyler, hastily crossing to the
eastern eide OF the river and hiding in the
woods. While thus concealed Burr induced
a negro boy to mount his horse and carry .
note to Floyd and Tyler which read thus:
IF you areyet together keep %, and
will join you tomorrow night. In the mean
while put all your arms in perfect
order Ask no questions OF the bearer
know. He PES not know that this 10 from
me, nor where l am :"
10 G. T. and d. F."
This note TO Floyd led to the arrest and
dispersion of the followers OF Burr and il
W as the strongest link in the chain of cir-
cumstances on which the Government re-
lied for Burr's conviction.
But what became of Floyd in the wilder
ness? 1t is clear that he did not rejoin Burr,
for Burr wan dered int Washington County.
Alabama, where he was arrested. Probably
Floy d escaped or was taken to New Orleans.
aud from thence was brought to Richmond
to be tried. But be never was tried When
Chief Justice Marshall declared that Burr
was neither legally nor actually present ct
| Blannerhassets Island where by the indict-
ment the levylng of war WAS CHARGED the
case of the Government ended, and Davis
| ( loid was never called to plead to the In
d ctments against nia. He returned TO
Indiana Territory, and il is bat right to pre-
sumo, in the absence Of proof TO the con-
trsry. that he firmly believed in the integ-
rlty and patriotism of Burr that be was
acting with the sanction of the Government
which was then expecting a Spanish war
and that he did not hsrbor reasonable de-
signs. Floyd was the first Circuit Judge of
the Second Judicial Circuit having been
commissioned oy Governor Jennings on Oc-
tobel 13, 1917, aud it is said that the good
little County of Floyd received iu name
preparing this paper to ascertain when
Floyd died or where he was buried. he
must have oeen man of great energy and
) iDdomitable perseverance,. Otherwise, he
! would not have been Aaron Burr's trusted
Lieutenant. Biennerhassett, In his Journal
says Major Floyd's temper was both mild
and amiable" He appears to have
j been learned in the law. II
his letters and correspondence
with Burr and Blenn er hasset could be found.
: what food of light they would pour on the
e motives of Burr and Wilkinson. 1t is clear
/ TO the reader of Burr's life and trial that
e Davis Floyd, his Indiana friend, was q friend
I OF friends, and true as steel TO him in pros
perity and adversely. What q different ca.
q reer both he and Burr would have led, had
c Jefferson aud his cabinet favored the inva-
c sion OF Mexico. We should have bad no
y Texan Revolution or Mexican War. An
d nexation and absorption OF the southern
Ina of hoxr a
policy and manifest destiny of the United
|, States, and Senators from the State OF Mexico
q might have helped to shape our tariff system
l. and internal or foreign policy long before
e Sam Houston ano his Texan braves made
e the field of San Jacnto forever memorable
III SrArsENBCR6.