The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-31
THE MIRANDA EPISODE

u,
New York Commercial Advertiser. Sta-
toned in Florida, he fought agninst tho
English IN our revolutionary war, ond
was there imbued with dosirc TO lib
crate South America from the Spanish
yoke. Going to Europe he became o
general i'll the French army, and fought
ON tho side of liberty. Driven thence
oy reason of his opposition to the Nopo-
eonic dynasty, he Travelled In tho cast,
made friends everywhere, and finally
went TO England, where, mt the begin
ming of this century, he secured assur.
anccs from the government of Pitt that
Should no enter upon revolutionary
movement in his native country, no
would not be opposed by Great britain.
Then nc came to America, armed with
letters of introduction to leading men
in this city and to the principal mesn~
bcrs OF the administration in Washinr-
ton.
At this time Spain, still Owner od
Florida and Mexico, was in constant
dispute with our settlers In tho NIissi-
sippi valley. The boundaries, cast and
west, were ill-t!efincd. Aggressions ON
our territory were frequent, and open
hOstilitics between citizens of the two
countries were at oil times imminent
Minor collisions ind outrugcs wore Of
constant occurrence At sea, too, Spa-l-
ish men of war were committing acts
similar to those that were stopped bv
the war of 1912. Tho relations OF Spain
and the United States were decidedly
strained Miranda visited Washington
and laid before jefferson md Secretary
Madison his plan for an uprising against
the Spanish rule in Caracas They Us
surcd him that the scheme would NOT bo
severely dealt with by tho aaminitr,s-
ton.
Then he came to Now York and or
ganizcd the famous ''Lcandcr expotli-
ton With the assistance of Coz.
William s. Smith. veteran of the rcy-
olution and son-in-law Of John
Adams, and of Samuel Govvcxneur
Ogden, one of the city's leading mcr-
chants, he loaded the ship Lcundrr with
cannon, small arms, an, other NUM-
lions Of w;lr, ind sailed in her Fchz1l-
ary 3, 1905. for South America. Ar
irving near Caracas, he proclaimed tho
revolution, but he was soon driven out
of the country. According to English
authority his failure was due to the
withdrawal of the support of Sir a.
Cochrnnc, admiral in those VOTERS. but
tradition here states that Aaron Burr,
being told IN confidence of the intent Of
the expedition, revealed the plot to tho
Spanish minister at Washington, who
promptly took measures to place on
their guard the Spanish forces in Now
Grnnadn. Burrs object was to prevent
w L. 81
own movement
Upon the failure Of the Lc<rnher c.x-
petition Spain Immediately caused rep
rcscntations to be made to the govern
mcnt ut Washington. International
law, she clnimed, had been violated by
American citizens to the injury of Span
ish subjects; and she demanded the Or
rest and trial of those concerned in the
affair. There was federal statute
covering the case, and the jefferson
administration, perhaps from fear OF
trouble in the west, perhaps with
prcmonition Of what its course must
bc in the Burr case, consented to com
ply with the Spanish demands NIcesrs.
Smith and Ogden were arrested. IN
dictcd, and tried for high misdcmoanor.
The casc excited great interest, not
only on account of the high standing of
the accused, but also because it was
openly given the character Of state
trial. The judge before whom tive trial
took place abandoned all prctcnsc OF
impartiality md used every cndcavor
to secure conviction. Tho district attor-
ney was assisted by Pierpont Edwards,
q United States district judges, who
was boaght from Connecticut to Now
York by tho government for the pup
pose. Opposed to them were the lead
ers OF the New York bar. WASHINGTON
Morton, Cadwallader D. Golden, and
others, whose names arc now forgotten.
Even the jury was notable, and includ-
cd John Rathbone, Jr., Courtlandt Bah
cock, Schuyler Livingston. LOWS C.
HSnrersley and Augustus Wynkoon
Amongst TIC witnesses was John jacob
Astor. who testified that sixty Of the
secondhand swords sent south had
been furnished by him.
The state unquestionably made ont
its case. There was no difficulty In 80
doing. for tho facts were notorious
The defense presented no evidence
whatever. They offered to coll various
members of JcfTcrson's cabinet, includ-
ing Madison. Dearborn, Robert Smith
and Gallatin, TO show that the unlaavful
expedition was tacitly approved by tho
administration; but these officers ro-
fused to attend. and the court refused
to compel their presence. They also
offered in evidence Jcf2erson's nessocca
showing the state of affairs between
Spain and tho United States. but this
testimony was ruled out by the court
Then for five days the Jury listened
to eboqucncc that, read to-day In tho
mnsty old volumes, and after eighty
years of peace with Snain is still Evincr